The inter-service rivalry between Army and Navy beckons to transpire over from the Pentagon to the gridiron. The 125th iteration of this footballing tradition has a lot at stake. Owing to both programs’ successful seasons, the Commander-in-Chief trophy is up for grabs. As if there was not enough fervor surrounding the game, the pageantry has gone up a notch. POTUS-elect Donald Trump is set to watch over proceedings from the stands, and he naturally tags along some esteemed company. 

Elon Musk is reportedly going to be stationed in Landover, Maryland, for the game. Musk and his son attended this fixture in 2023. He even outwardly stated he was rooting for Army, who ran out 17-11 winners. However, this visit may entail more than just showing support to the forces. 

In addition to his public support of Trump’s presidential campaign, Elon Musk has provided some very tangible financial backing. Musk reportedly spent $277 million throughout the election process. He may yet be shelling out more. The likes of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman have pledged $1 million each to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund ahead of his tenure in the White House. Musk is also in the reckoning. Best believe he’ll have some of the best seats in the house as he watches over the gridiron.

Elon Musk has been a massive proponent of Trump, and this shall not be their first visit together to a sporting event. The pair have attended UFC events in the past as well. The imminent POTUS has reciprocated Musk’s support by rewarding him with a position in his cabinet.  Elon Musk shall be part of the “Department of Government Efficiency”, or DOGE. He would be tasked with overlooking expenditure and leveraging his input in case any resources are being “wasted”.

Alongside Musk and Trump shall be VP-elect JD Vance, marine vet Daniel Penny, soon-to-be director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, army vet and TV personality Pete Hegseth and Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Quite the lineup. They’ll oversee a game that promises to be befitting of this company.

What can Elon Musk and co. expect to witness from this matchup?

This season has unequivocally been a roaring success for the Army Black Knights. Their 11-1 saw them wind up with a 22nd-place ranking. They were on the periphery of the playoffs but couldn’t quite muster a spot. Regardless, their even being in that conversation is evidence of how far they’ve come in only their first year in the AAC post-realignment.

The Navy Midshipmen have had a successful year themselves. There’s room for ascension but their 8-3 record reads pretty. They’ll be boosted by the return of their star QB Blake Horvath, who’s been out with injury since November 16th. Horvath’s status was up in the air, but it appears he will participate. However, Army are favorites to win according to the oddsmakers (-6).

With the Commander-in-Chief trophy at stake, expect fireworks from this one. Elon Musk will perhaps root for the Black Knights once again, and the signs do bode well for them. Kickoff is set for 3 pm Eastern.