President-elect Donald Trump will meet with aides and a Republican celebrity at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday, a chance to take on one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while also highlighting his emerging image. . national security team,
Trump is expected to join the newly elected Vice President JD Vancetangled pentagon pick pete hegsethPotential Backup Defense Options Florida Government. Ron DeSantis and for the 125th matchup among others service academies, Elon Musk Is also expected to participate.
also planning to attend Daniel Pennya military veteran who was acquitted of murder by criminal negligence An agitated subway rider died of suffocation in New York this week. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin” Penny's life by accusing the Marine veteran. Jordan Neely's death In 2023.
Trump, who attended the Army-Navy Games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been increasing his public appearances before his inauguration On January 20, 2025. His family and Vance were also present when he rang the opening bell on Thursday. New York Stock Exchange After being recognized as Time Magazine's Person of the Year,
Trump spent several weeks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after the November 5 election assembling a team to help lead his next administration. He and his allies have become confident about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming Defense Secretary were in jeopardy amid the allegations. binge drinking, sexual harassment and their thoughts women in war,
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DeSantis, a former Navy attorney who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is one of the potential replacement candidates Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fails.
Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said in a Newsmax interview on Friday that Hegseth “has made it through the challenge.” Miller predicted that Hegseth would be confirmed.
“This is a man who was literally shot on the battlefield,” Miller said. “This is the person I want to lead (the Department of Defense) because when we make these decisions about whether or not to harm American troops, I want someone who knows you on a personal level before you go. You know what it's like to send a young man or woman to war.”
House Speaker Mike JohnsonR-La. is also expected to attend the game and bring with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers who are vying for a face-to-face meeting with the incoming president just weeks before Republicans take control of three branches of the federal government.
Johnson said he intended to discuss plans with Trump for a legislative package that could pass through Congress with a simple majority next year despite expected Democratic opposition.
Vance said Friday that Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, has accepted his invitation to stay in Trump's suite on behalf of the military. Penny was cleared of manslaughter by criminal negligence in Neely's death after a judge ordered More serious murder charge dismissed Last week because the jury deadlocked on that issue.
The case was an issue in the long-running debate over racial justice, as well as New York City's failures to address homelessness and mental illness, with which Neely had struggled.
“Daniel's a good guy, and New York's mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for the sake of spinelessness,” Vance. Said in a post on“I am grateful that he accepted my invitation and hope that he will be able to enjoy and appreciate how much his fellow citizens appreciate his courage.”
According to a person familiar with Hegseth's schedule, Hegseth had planned to live in a suite with some Medal of Honor recipients.
Trump's picks for Navy secretary, John Phelan, a businessman who never served in the military, and for Army secretary, Dan Driscoll, an Iraq War veteran and former senior adviser to Vance, are also expected to attend. said the person, who was not authorized to discuss those details publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kickoff will take place at 3 p.m. EST at Northwest Stadium, home of the NFL's Washington Commanders, in Landover, Maryland.
Governor Wes Moore announced December 14, 2024 as Army vs. Navy Game Day in Maryland.
“Today is not just about the greatest rivalry in college sports – it's about what brings us together. I'm proud to be part of the long tradition of service that defines our state and our country ; that transcends background, ideology, race, and family history,” Moore said.
Army (11-1) is ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 after winning the American Athletic Conference by defeating Tulane on Dec. 6 — the first league title of any kind in the team's 134-year history. Navy (8-3) was ranked first this season after starting with six consecutive wins.
The Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights have faced each other on the football field every year since 1930, during the time the United States was fighting in World War II.
Winslow Townson/AP
The Army will pay tribute to soldiers who fought in a crucial battle 80 years ago as Adolf Hitler launched a last-ditch effort to push back American and Allied forces in Europe. The Army's 101st Airborne was among the units that fought Axis troops in the cold weather.
Now, the Army Black Knights are hoping to honor that determination on the field today. Their uniforms on the field are inspired by the snow and trees that the soldiers were surrounded by, and reflect the tenacity of the soldiers who refused to surrender and were able to fight the enemy.