The United States Tennis Association has been accused of cowardice and hypocrisy after asking broadcasters not to show any protests against Donald Trump during Sunday's US Open men's final. Internal emails obtained by outlets including PA and Bounces revealed the instruction to 'refrain from showcasing any disruptions or reactions' when the former president appears on screen. Trump, who was a guest in Rolex's suite, has been booed at the tournament before, most recently in 2015.
The USTA's decision contradicts its own history of embracing spectacle. The same tournament previously televised a climate protester gluing himself to a seat during Coco Gauff's semi-final in 2022, and regularly features fan disturbances. Critics argue that drawing the line at showing dissent against a politician is not policy consistency but capitulation to fear.
Bryan Armen Graham, writing for the Guardian, described the move as 'un-American' and reminiscent of regimes that shield leaders from public ridicule. He noted that crowd dissent is a normal part of democratic expression, citing examples such as Theresa May being booed at the 2012 London Paralympics and Emmanuel Macron whistled at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The USTA's statement to the Guardian—'We regularly ask our broadcasters to refrain from showcasing off-court disruptions'—was dismissed as weak and hypocritical. The organisation, which pioneered equal prize money for women and men, has been accused of stripping the US Open of its unique character by sanitising crowd reactions.
