Over the course of six days, subway vigilante Daniel Penny has gone from fearing a jail sentence to spending time with the president-elect in a luxury suite.
The Marine veteran was greeted as a hero on Saturday when he joined soon-to-be President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the annual Army-Navy football game, the New York Post reported on Friday.
Penny, who was acquitted Monday by a Manhattan jury in the chokehold death of NYC subway rider Jordan Neely, was the personal guest of Vance at the intense rivalry game, watching from the president-elect’s suite at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
Notable attendees at the game included Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, Intelligence Director nominee Tulsi Gabbard, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and billionaire Elon Musk, according to the New York Post. Before kickoff, Daniel Penny, dressed in a navy suit, was seen in the luxury suite talking with J.D. Vance’s wife, Usha, and Johnson.
Later, Trump stood next to Vance, shaking his fist and waving to the crowd chanting “USA! USA!” He saluted during the National Anthem. Trump greeted Penny and posed for photos with the Marine veteran, while Vance patted Penny on the back and laughed with him while meeting other guests.
“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance posted on X, referencing Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. He added, “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he enjoys seeing how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”
Gabbard, an Iraq War vet and Army Reserve officer, called it an honor to join Trump. “Standing alongside courageous Americans like Daniel Penny was special. This game isn’t just about football—it’s a tribute to service and unity,” she told the Post.
The Navy dominated the game, beating the Army 31-13, improving their series lead to 63-55-7. Penny attended the game shortly after being acquitted in a high-profile manslaughter trial. He was later seen celebrating in Manhattan with his legal team. Defense attorney Thomas Kenniff said Penny is relieved and ready to rebuild his life. “We savor the victory, but the harm done to him doesn’t just vanish,” Kenniff remarked.
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