Trump’s coin toss goes viral for all the wrong reasons at Army Navy game
A tradition interrupted
The Army Navy football game is known for its pageantry, military pride, and long standing traditions. But during this year’s matchup, a brief pregame moment quickly overshadowed the opening ceremony.
President Donald Trump attended the game on Saturday, December 13, at M and T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, marking the 126th meeting between the two service academies. As commander in chief, he was invited onto the field to perform the ceremonial coin toss, a role traditionally reserved for senior national figures.
According to UNILAD, Trump arrived bundled against the cold in a winter coat, scarf, and leather gloves as he joined players and officials at midfield.
A coin toss that caught attention
After the referee thanked Trump for his support of the armed forces, the president was asked to carry out the toss. With Army calling tails, Trump placed the coin flat on his palm, briefly addressed the players, and then released it.
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Video footage of the moment soon circulated widely online. Viewers noted that the coin appeared to travel upward with little or no spin, an unusual motion for such a familiar ritual.
According to footage shared by The Post Millennial, the coin rose and fell almost vertically before landing on the field, prompting immediate commentary from viewers watching both in the stadium and at home.
Social media reacts in unison
Online reactions followed swiftly, with many users expressing disbelief at the execution of the toss. One commenter wrote, “I’ve never seen someone screw up flipping a coin until now.”
Another joked, “Trump tosses the coin into the air like he was releasing a baby bird,” while a third compared the throw to “the equivalent of a knuckle ball,” adding, “I don’t know how he pulled that off.”
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The clip drew commentary across political lines. According to posts circulating on X, one viewer summed up the mood by saying, “Whether you’re left or right, we can all agree that was not a good coin toss.”
Sports commentator Clay Travis also weighed in, writing that it was an “unprecedented coin toss that doesn’t appear to flip at all,” according to his public post.
How the game actually unfolded
Despite the awkward release, Trump appeared to track the coin without difficulty and pointed to it once it landed. The toss came down on tails, awarding the kickoff to Army’s Black Knights and drawing loud cheers from service members in attendance.
The moment, however, had little bearing on the final result. Navy’s Midshipmen ultimately edged out Army with a 17,16 victory in a tightly contested game.
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A familiar presence at the rivalry
According to UNILAD, this marked the sixth Army Navy game attended by Trump, making him the tenth president to take part in the tradition since Theodore Roosevelt first attended in 1901. The outlet also reported that the White House had been contacted for comment following the viral reaction.
While the game itself delivered a dramatic finish, it was a fleeting pregame ritual that once again demonstrated how even the smallest moments can dominate the modern news cycle.
Sources: UNILAD, The Post Millennial, public posts from X
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