The president attended as a guest of Swiss luxury watchmaker Rolex, notable because of his decision to impose 39 per cent tariffs on US imports from Switzerland – tariffs substantially higher than for most other countries’ products.
Trump’s invitation to the Rolex suite was first reported by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg on his site Bounces, which also revealed the United States Tennis Association had asked broadcasters not to show the crowd’s reaction to the president.
President Donald Trump at the US Open men’s final in New York.Credit: Getty Images
“We ask all broadcasters to refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions in response to the president’s attendance in any capacity,” the USTA said in an email to broadcasters obtained by Rothenberg.
Celebrities spotted courtside early in the afternoon to watch Sinner and Alcaraz included Bruce Springsteen, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Danny DeVito, Kevin Hart, Dakota Fanning and basketballer Steph Curry.
Earlier, Trump briefly answered questions from journalists as he left Washington. Asked if he was ready to proceed to additional sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine, he said: “Yes, I am.”
Asked whether he would consider attacking Venezuelan drug cartels inside that country, Trump said: “You’re going to find out.” Last week, the US conducted a lethal strike on an alleged drug vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua cartel, killing 11 people in international waters off the coast of Venezuela.
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And he took issue with a reporter – NBC News White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor – who asked him whether he was declaring war on Chicago after he threatened to unleash “apocalyptic force” on the country’s third-largest city.
“When you say that, darling, that’s fake news,” Trump told her. “Be quiet. Listen. You never listen, that’s why you’re second-rate. We’re not going to war, we’re going to clean up our cities … that’s not war, that’s common sense.”