The U.S. Open men’s final on September 7, 2025, was disrupted by a 45-minute delay, not due to any actions by President Donald Trump, but because of the United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) woeful mismanagement of crowd control and logistics. Enhanced security measures, necessitated by Trump’s attendance, were poorly coordinated by the USTA, leaving fans waiting in chaotic lines, some likening the experience to being treated “like cattle.” While the Secret Service implemented standard protocols for a presidential visit, the USTA’s failure to plan effectively for these measures resulted in thousands of ticket holders—many who paid thousands of dollars—being stuck outside Arthur Ashe Stadium as the Jannik Sinner-Carlos Alcaraz match began. Notably, high-profile Trump critics Spike Lee and Bruce Springsteen, who met at the entrance and were ushered to their seats without issue despite their past outspoken remarks flagging them as potential security concerns, highlighted the USTA’s skewed priorities in favoring VIPs over regular fans.

The crowd’s frustration was evident, with boos erupting when Trump appeared on the jumbotron during the national anthem, a reaction reminiscent of his 2015 U.S. Open appearance. The USTA’s reported attempts to pressure broadcasters like ESPN to avoid airing these crowd reactions, in a bid to downplay the chaos, only fueled perceptions of mismanagement. The half-empty stadium, despite the presence of celebrities like Lee, Springsteen, Shaggy, and Kevin Hart in luxury suites, stood as a stark testament to the USTA’s failure to manage entry logistics effectively. Fans voiced their anger on social media, pointing out that while regular attendees, some paying up to $20,000 for tickets, were left stranded, the USTA ensured seamless access for high-profile figures, regardless of their public anti-Trump stances, further exposing the organization’s disorganized approach.

The USTA’s inability to anticipate and mitigate the logistical challenges of a presidential visit, not any decision by Trump himself, was the sole cause of the event’s chaos. The financial burden on taxpayers, running into millions due to security costs, compounded public outrage over the mismanagement. Fans who traveled globally to see the U.S. Open final were left feeling cheated, with many unable to witness the match’s early moments. The stark contrast between the empty stands and the packed VIP suites, coupled with the USTA’s failure to equitably manage access for all attendees, turned a marquee tennis event into a showcase of poor planning. The USTA’s mishandling of crowd control and logistics, not the president’s presence, was the root of the delays and dissatisfaction, tarnishing the event’s reputation and leaving fans and taxpayers to bear the cost.