Over six days, subway vigilante Daniel Penny went from fearing jail to mingling with the president-elect in a luxury suite.
The Marine veteran, acquitted Monday in the chokehold death of NYC subway rider Jordan Neely, was hailed as a hero on Saturday. Penny attended the Army-Navy football game as the personal guest of Vice President-elect JD Vance, joining soon-to-be President Donald Trump in their suite at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD, the New York Post reported.
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The New York Post reported that attendees at the Army-Navy 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. Before kickoff, Daniel Penny, dressed in a navy suit and tie, was seen in the luxury suite chatting with Vice President-elect JD Vance, his wife Usha, and Speaker Johnson.
Later, Trump and Vance stood together, waving to the crowd as chants of “USA! USA!” erupted. Trump greeted Penny warmly, posing for photos with him and Vance, who praised Penny on social media, calling him a “good guy” targeted unfairly by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he feels the admiration of his fellow citizens,” Vance wrote.
Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, called it an honor to stand with Penny, describing him as embodying the courage of America’s warriors. “This game isn’t just about football—it’s a tribute to service and unity,” she added.
Penny, 26, was invited by Vance after his acquittal in the high-profile manslaughter case involving Jordan Neely. After the verdict, Penny celebrated with his legal team at Stone Street Tavern and American Whiskey in Manhattan. Defense attorney Thomas Kenniff noted Penny is focused on rebuilding his life, saying, “We savor the victory, but the harm done to him doesn’t just vanish.”
