Trump Returns to 126th Army–Navy Game Amid Tensions Following Syria Ambush
On December 13, 2025, the 126th Army–Navy game took place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. This marked former President Donald Trump's seventh appearance at the Army–Navy game, having previously attended annually from 2016 to 2020 and then again in 2024.
Hours before kickoff, a deadly ambush in Syria resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Army soldiers and one U.S. interpreter in an ISIS attack. Three other soldiers were injured but were reported to be doing well. Trump addressed the attack in a post on Truth Social, promising serious retaliation. The Syrian President, Ahmed al‑Sharaa, was described as being angered by ongoing tensions.
The 2025 matchup was particularly significant, serving as a winner-take-all contest for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Navy entered the game with a 9–2 record and was set to participate in the Liberty Bowl, while Army held a 6–5 record and was headed to the Fenway Bowl. Last year, Navy claimed the trophy after sweeping both Army and Air Force.
Historically, the game held special importance for Army fans, as they had ended Navy's 14-game winning streak in Baltimore in 2016 with a 21–17 victory. Notably, Navy was ranked 22nd in the AP poll but was unranked in the College Football Playoff rankings when Army defeated them that year. The 2024 game had been held in Landover, Maryland at Northwest Stadium.
