President Donald Trump receives rousing welcome from crowd at 120th Army-Navy game

Tommy Deas | USA TODAY

PHILADELPHIA – President Donald Trump participated in the coin toss at the 120th Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field to a round of applause from the crowd Saturday.

The president stood on the field with representatives from both service academies during the national anthem and then walked to midfield, waving at supporters on his way. Trump stood on the Navy sideline, wearing his red cap, as the team ran onto the field before kickoff.

Trump walked out to midfield for the coin toss, with security personnel roping off the area. Trump was introduced to a round of applause from the crowd and tossed the coin.

Navy called tails and won the toss.

The president watched the first half from the Army side with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other military leaders, according to the official pool report.

Trump crossed over to the Navy side at halftime. Some audience members chanted, "Commander in chief" and "Trump we love you" was also heard. A couple dozen people in uniform chanted, "Four more years!"

The president watched along with the crowd as five Black Hawk helicopters did a flyover, twice passing over the stadium during intermission.

Trump began to leave the stadium shortly after 5 p.m. He stopped to receive a football from a group of paratroopers who had been scheduled to land on the field before the game, but were unable to do so due to the weather.

Air Force One took off in the middle of the fourth quarter.

This was Trump's third appearance at an Army-Navy game, the first coming when he was president-elect. He is one of 10 sitting presidents to attend the game. The crowd gave him a rousing welcome when he first was introduced and walked onto the field after flying up from Washington.

Before the game, according to the official pool report, Trump went to the Army locker room, shaking hands with players and slapping them on the shoulder pads as they lined up and walked past him. Boom microphones picked him up telling players to “have a good game” and “have a good one.”

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Trump addressed the Army team after being introduced by Esper. The president talked about his new policy that allows athletes at the service academies to play professionally before fulfilling their service commitments..

"The last time I saw your coach, he said, 'What about a waiver?'" Trump said to the team. "I said, 'What are you talking about a waiver.' He said some of these guys could play in the NFL, you could play for the Yankees, you could play for the Mets, you could play basketball, you could play whatever. But you have to serve a long time.

"And what we are doing now is you'll go out and make a fortune and after you are all finished with your professional career you will go and you will serve. And everybody is thrilled. That means you can go out and do whatever you want. ... So I want to congratulate you. ... So good luck to you."

Trump then went to the Navy locker room, where he also talked about the new policy. He also saluted the Midshipmen for their season and said they need to cap it with a victory over Army: “It has to happen today,” he told the team.

Air Force One landed just before 2 p.m. at Philadelphia International Airport, according to the pool report. Trump disembarked at 2:17 and gave a fist pump to cheering supporters. The motorcade arrived under a misting, light rainfall at Lincoln Financial Field at 2:32.

About 22 minutes before kickoff, Trump appeared on the stadium’s video screens signing a commemorative football in the Oval Office and passing it off camera.