Trump brings political drama to the Army and Navy game sidelines

President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend the annual Army-Navy game in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday, and they’re bringing some guests sure to spark debate.

In what will be the 125th meeting between the Black Knights and Midshipmen, a source tells Fox that Trump is bringing Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth to the highly anticipated football matchup, while Vance confirmed on social media that he wants Marine veteran Daniel Penny with him. page.

Penny was found not guilty in the death of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway earlier this week, a decision that was criticized by some commentators on the left and underlined the divide between crime and mental health.

President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend the annual Army-Navy game in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday, and they’re bringing some guests sure to spark debate. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images, left, Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, second from left, Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, second from right, Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images, right. )

DANIEL PENNY WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY IN SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD RETAGE

Hegseth is still fighting to secure his nomination for the top defensive role, and the dynamics of his appearance will be interesting since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will also be in attendance.

DeSantis was at one point touted as a possible replacement for Hegseth, though it’s unclear whether he will sit with Trump in a suite.

Hegseth’s appearance will mark a very public statement of support from Trump, as some senators are still holding off on committing to his confirmation.

Hegseth, an Army National Guardsman and former longtime Fox News host, deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and has been the focus of reports of misconduct.

Trump’s nominee for defense secretary has denied allegations that he abused women, but reached a financial settlement with an accuser from a 2017 incident to avoid a lawsuit. He has vowed he will not drink “one drop of alcohol” if confirmed as defense secretary.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, gives a thumbs up as he walks with his wife Jennifer Hegseth, left, to meet with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol in Washington, DC, on December 9, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

JD VANCE CONFIRMS DANIEL PENNY WILL ATTEND ARMY-NAVY GAME AFTER SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD ACQUISITION

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who President-elect Trump has tapped to serve as director of national intelligence, is also believed to be going to the fight along with Speaker Mike Johnson, according to reports. Like Hegseth, Gabbard is in an uphill battle for confirmation.

Meanwhile, Vance took a swipe at New York prosecutors to take up the case in a post on X confirming Penny’s involvement.

“Daniel is a good guy and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance wrote. “I am grateful that he accepted my invitation and hope that he is able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”

Penny, 26, was charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the May 2023 subway death of Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia who had barged onto the train and yelled death threats while high on a known type synthetic marijuana. as K2.

Navy veteran Daniel Penny will join the fray along with Vice President-elect JD Vance. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

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Trump ran for president in 2018, 2019 and 2020, while also running as president-elect in 2016.

President Biden has never attended the annual clash as president, although he did appear as vice president.

This season has been a banner year for both football programs, adding buzz to the annual rivalry game. The teams have a combined 19 wins this year, and with wins over Air Force, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy will be awarded to the winner of Saturday’s game.

Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie, Paulina Dedaj and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Navy Midshipmen and Army Black Knights line up for snaps at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 9, 2023 in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)