Crowd erupts as Trump and family draw massive cheers at CFB championship in Miami

MIAMI, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump attended the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami Hurricanes faced the Indiana Hoosiers.

Trump appeared on the stadium video board during the National Anthem, prompting loud cheers from fans inside the venue. According to the White House, the appearance was part of his Martin Luther King Jr Day schedule.

The championship game attracted a mix of political leaders and celebrities, with Trump standing out as the most high-profile figure in attendance that night.

Trump cheered during National Anthem at CFP final

The president was met with a hearty round of applause when cameras showed him watching the National Anthem from a luxury suite during the ESPN broadcast. The moment sparked loud cheers throughout the stadium as fans reacted to his presence at the title game between Miami and Indiana.

Trump was joined at the final by his daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, and their two sons, Joseph Frederick and Theo James. His granddaughter Kai, the eldest child of Donald Trump Jr, also attended with her mother, Vanessa. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was present as well and took part in pregame festivities on the field. A Miami native, Rubio was seen among Hurricanes supporters and flashed “The U” on camera.

The national championship drew several prominent figures from sports and entertainment, including boxer Jake Paul, musician DJ Khaled, and billionaire Mark Cuban, who were all present during pregame events.

Trump attends CFP final during MLK Day schedule

The White House said Trump attended the game as part of his Martin Luther King Jr Day engagements. He traveled from Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach aboard Marine One, landed at North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, and then proceeded to the stadium via motorcade.

Trump also has a personal connection to the Hurricanes through his granddaughter, Kai Trump, who signed with the University of Miami women’s golf team during the early signing period on November 12. She made her LPGA debut in mid-November at The Annika as the youngest player in the field.

The Miami matchup marked Trump’s third appearance at a College Football Playoff national championship game. His first came in 2018, when Alabama defeated Georgia 26–23 in overtime on a touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith.

Trump’s frequent appearances at major sports events

Trump has attended multiple major sporting events over the past year, including the Ryder Cup, the US Open men’s tennis final, a Yankees–Tigers game on September 11, Super Bowl LIX, the Club World Cup final, and several UFC events. 

The White House released a statement earlier in the day that read, “For more than 150 years, college football has been a cherished fixture in American culture. Every fall and winter, massive crowds flock to stadiums in college towns all across our Nation to witness the epic display of loyalty, rivalry, tradition, and regional identity erupting throughout the stands and on the field below."

It further added, "From the very first collegiate matchup in 1869, our country’s love of this storied Saturday ritual has been passed down from one generation to the next and endured as an iconic American institution."

“Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes on making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship. God bless the talented players and dedicated coaches, the families who love and support them, and the faithful fans who cheer them on. May the best team win!” the White House wrote on its website.