President Donald Trump drew widespread attention on Saturday after performing the ceremonial coin toss ahead of the annual Army–Navy football game in Baltimore, where viewers noted that the coin appeared not to flip in the air.
The moment occurred at midfield at M&T Bank Stadium, where Trump was invited to officiate the toss before kickoff. Video footage shows the president taking the coin from the referee, briefly addressing those around him, and then tossing it upward with his right hand. The coin appeared to rise almost straight up with little or no visible rotation before landing on the field.
The referee later announced the result as tails, giving Army the choice following the toss.
Clips of the moment circulated widely on social media, prompting a wave of reactions across platforms. Some users described the toss as unusual or unconventional, while others treated it humorously, suggesting it was a new or awkward way to perform a familiar ritual. On more politically charged platforms, some commenters used the moment to criticize the president more sharply.
Trump became the 10th sitting U.S. president to attend and officiate the coin toss at the Army–Navy game. President Theodore Roosevelt was the first to attend the annual matchup in 1901, while President John F. Kennedy became the first president to perform the ceremonial coin flip in 1961.
The appearance came earlier the same day Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” against the Islamic State group following an attack in Syria that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
The Army–Navy game is one of the longest-running rivalries in college football and is traditionally attended by senior military leaders and national political figures.