“We have been advised by King County Airport that there is the possibility of a presidential or vice presidential temporary flight restriction if the US team reaches the round of 16.”
President Donald Trump or Vice President JD Vance could make their first official visit to Seattle since taking office if the US Men's National Team advances to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
According to The Seattle Times, King County International Airport has alerted at least one local aviation company that it is planning for the possibility of a presidential or vice presidential temporary flight restriction (TFR) on July 6, when Seattle hosts a Round of 16 match that would feature the United States if it defeats Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.
"We have been advised by King County Airport that there is the possibility of a presidential or vice presidential temporary flight restriction if the US team reaches the round of 16 (match)," David Gudgel, president of Kenmore Air, told the outlet.
"There's been no official announcement of a potential federal VIP visit for the July 6 World Cup match," Cameron Satterfield, communications manager for the King County Department of Executive Services, told The Seattle Times. "However, Kenmore Air as both a fixed base operator (FBO) and air carrier at KCIA would need to let their customers know well before time that their flight(s) might be impacted by a presidential or VP TFR." Satterfield said officials would likely know shortly after Wednesday's Round of 32 matchup whether planning for a potential VIP visit will move forward, allowing enough time to prepare if the US advances.
The US Men's National Team will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Bay Area on Wednesday, with the winner earning a trip to Seattle for the July 6 Round of 16 match.
Earlier this month, Trump became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game when he appeared at Game 3 in New York City. Several senior Trump administration officials have already attended World Cup matches in Seattle. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were both in attendance when the United States defeated Australia 2-0 on June 19.
Although no TFR has been issued for July 6, Kenmore Air has begun notifying customers that flights could be affected if a presidential or vice-presidential visit is confirmed. Gudgel told The Seattle Times that the extent of any disruption would depend on who attends. A presidential TFR typically extends 30 nautical miles, while a vice-presidential restriction is generally much smaller.
A presidential visit would temporarily halt all of Kenmore Air's operations, Gudgel said, while a vice-presidential visit would allow some operations to continue. The US Secret Service also has the authority to temporarily close highways and local streets during presidential and vice-presidential movements.
If either Trump or Vance attends, it would mark the administration's first official visit to Seattle since taking office. Trump has not visited Seattle as president, though he campaigned in Spokane, Lynden, and Everett during the 2016 election. Vance has also not yet made an official visit to the city.
The last presidential campaign visit to Seattle came in May 2024, when then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned in the city, prompting temporary flight restrictions and widespread traffic delays throughout the region.
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