Trump’s scheduled appearance means heightened security at Yankee Stadium

NEW YORK — Roads were blocked off, helicopters circled overhead and Secret Service, NYPD and TSA officers stood outside Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon, hours before President Donald Trump was scheduled to attend the New York Yankees game against the Detroit Tigers.

Trump was coming to mark the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, having already given remarks at a morning event commemorating the attacks at the Pentagon. But the game also comes the day after Charlie Kirk, the prominent right-wing activist and close ally of the president, was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. The Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk before their game on Wednesday night.

When asked before the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was “excited” that Trump would be in attendance.

“I think he’s going to come down and come into the locker room for a minute,” Boone said. “I’ve had the honor and fortune of some presidents over the years, first pitches, whatever it may be. The fact that he is going to be here is something that I’m excited to be a part of, to see. I don’t know what it will be like. But to interact for a few minutes, it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Yankees president Randy Levine has close ties with Trump. He joined him, House Speaker Mike Johnson and billionaire Elon Musk at UFC 309 in November.

Enhanced security meant the Yankees opened gates to fans roughly three hours before the first pitch at 7:05 p.m., more than an hour earlier than normal.

Trump has become a regular at major sporting events during his second term. On Sunday, he drew boos mixed with some cheers from the New York crowd when he attended the U.S. Open men’s final in which Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner. Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl, which he did in February. He also presented the FIFA Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea in July and is expected to attend the 2026 men’s World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in December.

This story will be updated.

(Photo of Yankee Stadium scoreboard: Brad Penner / USA Today via Imagn Images)