President Trump will be present for the 3 p.m. kickoff of the 120th Army-Navy football game on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
White House spokesman Judd Deere told Fox News that Trump will attend the rivalry game between the military service academies for the third time. Last year, at the 119th game, Trump conducted the coin toss and then spent equal time with each team and their senior officers, as to not show any favoritism.
He also attended the event as president-elect in 2016.
A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected to attend the game, which will be held at Lincoln Financial Field — home to the Philadelphia Eagles. Live coverage of the game will be broadcast on the CBS network.
The Navy wants nothing more than the chance to stop the Army’s three-year winning streak. Right now, the Navy Midshipmen are 9-2 in their season and the Army Black Knights are 5-7.
The first game between the long-time rivals was in 1890 in West Point, N.Y. The Navy maintains the record for the most wins in the rivalry match up with 60 wins to the Army’s 52. Seven games have ended in a tie.
Saturday’s pivotal game is expected to have added security for both tailgating and entrance into the stadium, Military Times reported.
The rival teams also recently released their new uniforms, which will be worn during the game.
The Army’s new uniform is from Nike and honors the 1st Cavalry Division soldiers of the US Army.
West Point football uniform. (Army West Point/Released)
“The 2019 Army-Navy Uniform tells the story of the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division and the birth of airmobility during the Vietnam War. The Division is unique in that throughout its existence, the Division has served as a Cavalry Division, an Infantry Division, an Air Assault Division and an Armored Division. We honor the past by re-telling the story of the ‘1st Team!’” West Point said in a press release.
The Navy’s new uniforms are a throwback of teams from the 1960s, featuring the traditional navy blue with gold accents and iconic shoulder stripes.
Naval Academy football uniform. (US Naval Academy/Released)
The helmet has the “team’s anchor logo over bronze paint to honor Heisman winners Roger Staubach (1963) and Jim Bellino (1960),” according to Athlon Sports.
Jerseys for both teams are available for purchase.
Trump was also present for the November game between the number three Louisiana State University Tigers and the number two University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Tigers beat Crimson Tide 46-41 at the Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as the President and First Lady looked on. Their attendance prompted both boos and supporting chants.
