Daniel Penny, who became a conservative cause celebre, was pictured attending the Army v Navy American football game near Washington DC with Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance.
The Army v Navy game is an annual fixture that marks the end of the college American football season and is the final game of the season’s Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series.
In a photo taken from outside Trump’s suite in Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on Saturday, Mr Penny could be seen talking with Trump and Vance.
Speaking about Mr Penny’s acquittal earlier this week, Vance said this week on X that Mr Penny was “a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone”.
Mr Neely’s death, and the subsequent trial, became a flashpoint, with some accusing Mr Penny of being a vigilante, while others defended him, arguing he was looking out for other passengers’ safety.
This week, a New York City subway rider who was found not guilty of killing a homeless man during a train altercation has joined US President-elect Donald Trump as a distinguished guest at a major American athletic event.
Trump and vice president-elect JD Vance were seen with Daniel Penny, who later became a conservative cause celebre, at the Army vs. Navy American football game outside of Washington, DC.
Before the game, Senator Vance of Ohio wrote on X that he was “grateful” that Mr. Penny, a former US Marine, accepted his invitation to join him in the Army side of Trump’s suite.
On Monday, a jury found Mr. Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide for choking to death 30-year-old homeless man Jordan Neely, who had been yelling at other passengers and begging for money the previous year.
The final game of the season’s Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series and the end of the college American football season are both marked by the annual Army vs. Navy game.
Representing the intense competition between two branches of the US Armed Forces, it is one of the greatest sporting rivalries in American history.
Mr. Penny was seen conversing with Trump and Vance in a Saturday photo taken outside Trump’s suite at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
On X this week, Vance discussed Mr. Penny’s acquittal earlier this week, stating that he was “a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone.”.
The incoming vice president went on to say that the case’s prosecution by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg was “a scandal.”.
With some accusing Mr. Penny of being a vigilante and others defending him by claiming he was protecting the safety of other passengers, Mr. Neely’s death and the trial that followed became a flashpoint.
In a statement, Steven Raiser, Mr. Penny’s attorney, said that his client was honored to receive the invitation to the game on Saturday.
“He doesn’t see it as a political stance. He sees it as essentially an honor,” Mr. Raiser told the news agency Reuters.
He would also have accepted the invitation to the Army-Navy game if it had come from a Democratic president in office who wanted to show support for his nation and its military. “..”.
The game also included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has been rumored to be in the running to succeed Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for defense secretary, should Trump back out of the offer.
Concerns regarding Hegseth’s credentials and personal behavior have raised serious concerns about his nomination.
At the game were Trump ally Elon Musk, Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump’s nominee for director of the FBI, Kash Patel, and his nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
