Air Force One made a low pass over Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, September 26, about 40 minutes before kickoff, as President Donald Trump arrived to attend the college football game between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee, the SEC opener for both teams. The plane flew fairly low over the 101,000-seat stadium, then climbed again before landing shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Trump arrived at the stadium as the national anthem was being sung and watched from a suite alongside Tennessee Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty. He drew loud applause when he was shown on the video board.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Rep. Tim Burchett were among those aboard Air Force One. The visit brought enhanced security measures, and both teams coordinated with the Secret Service to clear radio frequencies for coach-to-player headset communication after Texas coach Steve Sarkisian warned the president’s movements could disrupt them.