Spectator-in-chief: Trump's history with U.S. sports
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President Trump walks onto the field prior to Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
The White House has described President Trump "as the greatest champion for sports of any president in American history" — and from his plan to hold a UFC fight at the White House and his second-term appearances at various high-profile sporting events, there's no denying he's a fan.
Why it matters: While the president and MAGA have championed some sports and certain stars, he also has a history of attempting to referee the playing field from the sidelines.
- Before his move to Pennsylvania Ave., Trump had two dances with purchasing an NFL team — and ultimately bought a squad in the now-defunct USFL, the demise of which some have partially pinned on his pressure to alter the league's schedule.
- From the rules of the game, to where matches are held, to who gets to play, Trump has continued putting his thumb on the sporting world's scales.
The latest: Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to attend Monday's college football championship game in Miami, Axios' Marc Caputo reported.
- In February of last year, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl — and in the months since, he's become a somewhat expected fixture at major sporting events.
- He joined broadcasters in the booth during the November Commanders-Lions game, which fell amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
- And he is reportedly keen on the Commanders' new stadium being named after him.
State of play: With the U.S. in what's been named a "mega decade" of sports, Trump's head has been consistently in the game(s): He's frequently boasted that the World Cup and the Olympics are coming to the U.S. — even during vastly unrelated speeches.
- He raised eyebrows by suggesting 2026 World Cup matches should be moved away from host cities that are "even a little bit dangerous" and saying governors and mayors are "going to have to behave."
- As reported by The Athletic, Trump doesn't have the authority to unilaterally move the games. But he's forged a relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who gave him the international federation's largely symbolic peace prize.
Zoom in: He has also established ties with certain players, like the San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa, who flashed a "Make America Great Again" hat after a game just days before the 2024 election.
- Before the September Ryder Cup in New York — where the Europeans won after being subjected to a torrent of abuse from fans — Trump threw his support behind U.S. captain Keegan Bradley, who said he was "deeply honored" to have the president attend.
- Bradley's fellow pro Scottie Scheffler said that Trump, widely known to be an avid golfer, has contacted him after wins. The president has also been friendly with LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau.
Yes, but: There are other athletes he'd like to see benched. During his first term, he condemned kneeling during the national anthem, as many players did to protest racial injustice.
- In 2017, he withdrew NBA star Stephen Curry's championship invitation to the White House for "hesitating" to come.
The bottom line: Washington norms haven't changed Trump in myriad ways — and his affinity for sports is one of them.
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