The Army-Navy game becomes a political drama due to Trump's presence.

On Saturday, President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend the annual Army-Navy game in Landover, Maryland, accompanied by guests who are likely to spark controversy.

The 125th meeting of the Black Knights and Midshipmen will feature Trump taking Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth to the football clash, while Vance will have Marine veteran Daniel Penny by his side, according to a source.

The decision to acquit Penny in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely in New York City earlier this week was met with criticism from some left-wing commentators, highlighting the divide between crime and mental health.

The nomination for the top defense role is still being contested by Hegseth, and the dynamics of his appearance will be intriguing due to the presence of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Hegseth was once considered as a possible replacement for DeSantis, but it is uncertain if he will be seated with Trump in a suite.

Trump's public declaration of support for Hegseth will be marked by his appearance, as some senators are still withholding their commitment to his confirmation.

An Army National Guard veteran and ex-Planet Chronicle host, Hegseth has been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and has faced allegations of misconduct.

Trump's defense secretary nominee has denied allegations of mistreating women but did reach a financial settlement with an accuser from a 2017 incident to avoid a lawsuit. He has pledged that he won't consume any alcohol if confirmed as defense secretary.

New York City prosecutors were criticized by Vance in a post on X for taking on the case involving Penny's attendance.

"Vance expressed gratitude for Daniel's acceptance of his invitation and hoped he would enjoy himself while appreciating the admiration of his fellow citizens for his courage."

In May 2023, Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia who was high on K2, died after being choked by Penny, a 26-year-old woman, on a subway train. Penny was subsequently charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

In 2016, Trump appeared as president-elect at the game, and he attended as president in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

As vice president, President Biden attended the annual clash, but never has he participated as president.

This season has been a standout for both football teams, with a combined 19 wins and a chance to win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Saturday.

This report was contributed to by Aishah Hasnie, Paulina Dedaj, and Paul Steinhauser of Planet Chronicle.