He’s back. After a decade-long hiatus that saw him go from a Queens-born real estate mogul to the 45th and then 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump finally returned to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. But if you were looking for him in the front row right behind the baseline, you’d be looking in the wrong place.
Politics and tennis make for a weird cocktail. Honestly, it’s a bit chaotic. When Trump showed up for the 2025 US Open men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the vibe in Arthur Ashe Stadium shifted instantly. Security lines snaked around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for hours. The match was even delayed by 30 minutes just to get everyone through the extra Secret Service checkpoints.
So, where exactly was he?
The Rolex Suite: A VIP View with a Side of Controversy
During the 2025 final, Donald Trump sat in the Rolex luxury suite on the mezzanine level of Arthur Ashe Stadium. It wasn't just a casual seat; it was a high-level diplomatic box.
Sitting right next to him was Jean-Frédéric Dufour, the CEO of Rolex. This was sorta awkward for the policy wonks in the room. Just weeks before the tournament, the Trump administration had slapped a massive 39% tariff on Swiss imports. You’d think the head of a major Swiss watchmaker would be frustrated, but there they were, watching Alcaraz rip forehands together.
The suite itself is located in the "middle tier" of the stadium. In Arthur Ashe, you have the courtside seats, then the luxury suites, and finally the upper promenade. Sitting in the mezzanine suite gives you a perfect "TV view" of the court. You aren't close enough to hear the players grunt, but you can see every tactical shift and ball rotation perfectly.
Who else was in the box?
It wasn't a solo outing. Trump brought a heavy-hitting entourage that looked more like a Cabinet meeting than a Sunday at the tennis.
- Susie Wiles (White House Chief of Staff)
- Pam Bondi (Attorney General)
- Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary)
- Karoline Leavitt (White House Press Secretary)
- Jared Kushner and Arabella Kushner
They weren't just sitting there for the sport. They were surrounded by glass, air conditioning, and high-end catering. While the rest of the fans were sweating in the New York humidity, the President was essentially in a fortified bubble.
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Where the Trump Organization Suite Used to Be
A lot of people think Trump still owns a box at the US Open. He doesn’t.
For decades, the Trump Organization controlled a specific suite in Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was famously located right next to the television broadcasting booths. If you were a regular at the Open in the early 2000s, you’d frequently see him leaning over the balcony of that suite, waving to the crowd or chatting with celebrities.
That ended in 2017. When he took office the first time, the Trump Organization suspended the lease on that suite. It hasn't been "his" for years. This is why his 2025 appearance as a guest of Rolex was such a big deal—he was technically someone else's invitee in a stadium where he used to be a primary tenant.
The "Jumbotron" Protocol and the Crowd Reaction
If you were watching on TV, you might have missed him. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) actually sent a memo to broadcasters like ESPN and ABC. They basically asked them to avoid showing "off-court disruptions."
Basically, they didn't want the TV audience to hear the boos.
And there were boos. Mixed with loud cheers, of course. When he was shown on the big screen during the National Anthem, the sound was a total toss-up. Some people were standing and clapping; others were letting him have it. Trump mostly stayed on the suite's balcony for the anthem and the start of the match, then retreated inside the air-conditioned area to eat dinner with his family during the middle sets.
He did come back out for the final games, though. He watched Carlos Alcaraz clinch the title and stayed for the trophy ceremony, eventually leaving the stadium just before 6:00 PM.
Why the Location Matters for Security
You can't just put a sitting President in a regular seat. The Secret Service essentially takes over the entire level where the President is sitting.
The mezzanine suites at Arthur Ashe are ideal for this. They have controlled entry points. They allow the security detail to monitor the crowd below and the promenade above. For the 2025 final, fans had to go through a second security screening just to enter the stadium bowl because of where Trump was perched.
It’s a logistical nightmare for the USTA, but it’s the only way to host a figure of that profile. Whether you love him or hate him, his presence changed the physical layout of the event for the day.
Actionable Insights for Fans Heading to the US Open
If you're heading to Flushing Meadows and hoping to spot a high-profile guest or the President in the future, keep these tips in mind:
- Check the Mezzanine: Most "A-list" political figures and corporate sponsors sit in the 200-level suites.
- Arrive Early: If a President is attending, security will be tripled. A 30-minute delay is the minimum; plan for two hours.
- Follow the "Suits": If you see a cluster of people in dark suits with earpieces near a specific entrance in the South Gate, you’ve found the VIP entry point.
- Watch the Jumbotron: The stadium director usually "out-groups" celebrities during changeovers. Even if TV doesn't show them, the fans in the stadium usually see them on the big screens.
The days of Donald Trump sitting in his own branded box are over, but as long as he’s a guest of brands like Rolex, you’ll find him in the same general area: the luxury mezzanine, tucked between the broadcasters and the high-rollers.
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To stay updated on high-profile attendance at major sporting events, you should monitor official USTA press releases and "day-of" security advisories, which usually provide the first hint of a VIP's arrival.