People in the crowd said the game is a fabulous opportunity to revel in the “best of America.”
President Donald Trump puts on a hat that says "KEEP AMERICA GREAT" before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Saturday’s Army-Navy game kicked off one day after the House Judiciary Committee took a step toward impeaching President Donald Trump, but no one seemed in the mood to let politics intrude on tradition at South Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
”Everybody gets along. That’s what’s nice,” said David Daniels, of Sea Isle City, who was in the Coast Guard and attends every game between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen.
Daniels and others welcome Trump’s regular attendance at the game.
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”The guy might not be perfect, he is our leader and you have to respect that,” said Daniels, who owns a plumbing business that is the busiest it’s been in 10 years.
Trump entered the stadium to resounding cheers at 3 p.m. He clapped and waved as he took to the field for the singing of the national anthem as a light rain fell and then donned a red cap that read “Keep America Great” and the number 45.
Mark Anthony, of Falling Waters, W.Va., said it’s great that the nation’s 45th president comes and “supports the men and women who support America.”
“You get goose bumps when you come here,” said Anthony. “You see the best of America.”
Anthony, who works as a repairman, said he spends a fortune on beer at Army-Navy games because he loves to buy drinks for active-duty soldiers and sailors. For 14 years, he’s been coming to the games.
Navy Midshipman Frey Pankratz, of Wichita, Kan., signals the Brigade of Midshipmen before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
U.S. Naval Academy Brigade midshipmen wear a "Go Navy" sign during the walk-on before the start of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy midshipmen march off the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Army cadets march onto the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
U.S. Naval Academy Brigade midshipmen stand in formation during the walk-on before the start of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Army cadet and First Captain Daine Van de Wall salutes on the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy mascot Bill the Goat tries to chew the turf before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy midshipmen watch from the stands as Army cadets march on the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Army cadets cheer on in the stands during the walk-on before the start of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Army cadet and First Captain Daine Van de Wall leads fellow cadets on the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
(L-R) Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy Sean Buck, President Trump, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy Darryl A. Williams during ceremonies prior to the 120th Army vs. Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Phila., Pa. on December 14, 2019.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent Sean Buck, left, President Donald Trump, center, and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper walk across the field before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
President Donald Trump puts on a hat that says "KEEP AMERICA GREAT" before the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
President Trump tosses the coin to determine first possession of the football prior to the 120th Army vs. Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Phila., Pa. on December 14, 2019.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Army’s # 27 Brandon Walters and # 13 Christian Anderson chase after a botched snap as Navy’s #56 Nizaire Cromartie moves in to make the tackle in the 3rd quarter of the 120th Army vs. Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Phila., Pa. on December 14, 2019.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Army quarterback # 13 Christian Anderson runs into the endzone for Army’s only touchdown of the game in the first quarter of the 120th Army vs. Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Phila., Pa. on December 14, 2019.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Army cadets celebrate a touchdown during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry (10) runs the ball in the second quarter of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy fullback Jamale Carothers (34) makes a touchdown catch in front of Army linebacker Jeremiah Lowery (43) during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
A spectator gestures to President Donald Trump during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
A flyover takes place during halftime of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy midshipmen tussle with a large American flag during halftime of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won, 31-7.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
President Donald Trump makes his way up the stairs to sit with on the Navy side during halftime of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
President Donald Trump sits with Navy midshipmen in the third quarter of the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy cornerback Michael McMorris (5) pulls down Army quarterback Christian Anderson (13) during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Army fans cheer at the start of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Army linebackers Donavan Lynch (11) and Cole Christiansen (54) trip up Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry (10) during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Army quarterback Christian Anderson (13) is brought down in the first quarter of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy safety Evan Fochtman (11) pulls down Army quarterback Christian Anderson (13) during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry (10) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy center Ford Higgins (72), slotback Travis Brannan (22) and quarterback Malcolm Perry (10) celebrate after Perry scored a fourth-quarter touchdown during the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
A Navy Midshipman is thrown up into the air while they begin o celebrate a victory late in the fourth quarter of the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won, 31-7Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
On the Army sideline Army cadets react to the game during the 120th Army vs. Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Phila., Pa. on December 14, 2019. Army lost 31-7.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
Army head coach Jeff Monken, left, shakes hands with Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo after the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy players pile up to celebrate with Navy Midshipmen after they defeated Army, 31-7, in the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Army players sing their school's alma matter after their team was defeated, 31-7, in the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy safety Noruwa Obanor (15) celebrates after the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Army defensive back Jaylon McClinton (7) kneels after the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Navy cornerback Cameron Kinley celebrates with Navy Midshipmen after his team defeated Army, 31-7, in the 120th Army Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019.Read moreHEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer
Navy fullback Jamale Carothers (34) and offensive tackle Justin Self (79) carry the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the locker room after the 120th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. Navy won 31-7.Read moreTIM TAI / Staff Photographer
Julie and Gary Wideman, by contrast, were attending their first Army-Navy game, fulfilling a long-standing wish of Gary’s.
Asked why he wanted to be there, Gary said it’s patriotic and called the game “America’s greatest sporting event.”
As to the nation’s political turmoil, which has exhausted some Americans and appeared to have been checked at the gate at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, Julie Wideman said: “I think people are just over that.”
Nevertheless, by Sunday, talk of the nation’s troubled politics will be hard to escape.
On Friday the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment against Trump, charging him with “abuse of power" and “obstruction of justice” in 23-17 party-line votes.
The full House is expected to approve the articles of impeachment Wednesday. If that happens, it would be just the third impeachment of a president in U.S. history.
A Senate trial is slated for next month, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday told Fox News there was “zero chance” of Trump’s removal from office.
