National reports say Donald Trump was booed in Knoxville. We were there; here’s what happened

What This Story Is About

• After attending the highly-anticipated Tennessee matchup against Texas in Knoxville, there’s questions about how warm President Donald Trump’s welcome was inside Neyland Stadium.

For Context

• Tennessee has historically been a republican stronghold, and Trump’s record in the Volunteer State has largely been strong.

Catch Up

• Donald Trump visited Knoxville Saturday, briefly making an appearance at the game.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – After attending the highly-anticipated Tennessee matchup against Texas in Knoxville, there’s questions about how warm President Donald Trump’s welcome was inside Neyland Stadium.

Whether or not the president’s presence was met with cheers or boos largely depends on who you ask, with outlets like People reporting he faced a slew of boos and the Washington Post saying Trump was welcomed with cheers.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere wasn’t so cut and dry. Footage WVLT captured from the field showcases a wily game day and a positive reaction for the controversial president when he made a Jumbotron appearance.

However, video WVLT’s Will Puckett took from the stands (featured in People’s coverage) tells a slightly different story, with one booing voice showcased as Trump was introduced during a commercial break.

That said, Trump’s reception in Knoxville was largely positive, a far-cry from reports claiming he was “loudly booed.”

Tennessee has historically been a republican stronghold, and Trump’s record in the Volunteer State has largely been strong. In 2024, he took 64% of the vote during his reelection. In Knoxville specifically, 59% of voters ticked the box next to Trump’s name.

However, an August poll from the Beacon Center of Tennessee, a nonprofit think tank, showed Trump’s approval rating in Tennessee had dropped below 50%.