Mix of cheers and boos meet President Trump at CFP final

Lindsay Schnell | USA TODAY

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ATLANTA — President Donald Trump arrived at the national championship game as expected Monday night, walking on the field to a mix of cheers and boos about seven minutes before kickoff, and standing with military members for the national anthem. Trump was mostly cheered when he walked out of the tunnel but at the conclusion of the anthem was loudly booed.

That reaction echoed his arrival at the stadium.

Officials shut down Mercedes-Benz Stadium about 5:45 p.m. ET when Trump was on his way, leaving thousands of fans (and some media members) stranded in the rain until the president was inside the stadium. When he arrived almost an hour later — presumably passing a small group of protesters outside CNN headquarters — there were resounding boos. The Metro Atlanta chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America projected “F*** Trump” on the outside of the stadium, tweeting “Welcome to Atlanta where the players play and where the Democratic Socialists have an awesome projector like every day. (You’re not welcome in District 5 or anywhere else in ATL you orange fascist.”)

There were no on-field protests by Alabama or Georgia players; college teams are typically kept in the locker room during pregame festivities. Trump has been highly — and loudly — critical of NFL protests this season. But as Alabama players were walking down the tunnel and onto the field, Tide running back Bo Scarbrough was caught on video yelling, “F*** Trump!”

Former Georgia All-American Hershel Walker, the 1982 Heisman winner and an honorary Bulldog captain for the title game, told Fox News earlier Monday, “I'm glad he's at the game, because he loves football. It's sad what's happened with all the kneeling and standing and all that, because Donald Trump is a great man, he's a great president and I wish people could understand that."

Walker and Trump have been longtime friends.

By the start of the second half, Trump had left the game.