President Trump took a surprising turn away from golf during the government shutdown and stepped into the role of a sports commentator at an NFL game. On Sunday, at the Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions game held in Maryland’s Northwest Stadium, Trump briefly left the sidelines to join the Fox NFL commentary booth, offering his thoughts on the game and the halftime ceremony.
The timing was perfect — the game took place over Veteran’s Day weekend, so there was a special salute to the military, which Trump highlighted during his appearance. “We just swore in a tremendous group of young people,” he said proudly, taking the moment to also jab at President Joe Biden. “Our recruitment’s been record-setting since a year ago, it was a disaster for the country, and now it’s record-setting so this was an honor to be here.”
Introduced by Fox hosts Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma, Trump was invited to offer his take on the game as it resumed. Playing off the fact that Ronald Reagan once worked as a sportscaster before becoming president, Albert asked Trump if he wanted to call some plays. The 79-year-old president accepted the offer with enthusiasm but tempered it with some quarterback analysis. He praised the Commanders’ back-up quarterback, calling him “a good quarterback,” and expressed hope that the first-string quarterback could “stop the injuries somehow.”
Throughout the game, Trump peppered the broadcast with casual and straightforward comments like “not bad,” “good runner,” and “they have to get a touchdown, forget about the play.” When the Commanders were close to scoring inside the red zone, he jumped in to call a 2nd-and-7 play, with the hosts filling in key details like the ball reaching the five-yard line. Trump confirmed this with a simple “that’s right.”
Albert and Vilma couldn’t help but joke that Trump was stealing their job, but Trump seemed to enjoy the moment. As expected, MAGA supporters quickly shared clips and photos of his commentary stint on social media, trying to shift attention away from the ongoing government shutdown. White House communications staff were just as quick to promote the moment online.
When asked why he loves sports so much, Trump said it’s like life itself — a mix of good, bad, and ugly moments. “You got to get through the problems to hit the triumphs, and you can never quit — you can never give up,” he reflected.
The hosts also pointed out that Trump was the first sitting president to attend a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978. Trump seemed impressed by the fact, simply saying, “That’s a long time. Wow.”
This appearance comes amid Trump’s continued criticism of the NFL, especially around the changes to kickoff rules made to emphasize player safety. Trump called these new rules “sissy football” on his Truth Social platform earlier in the year, complaining they made the game less exciting while trying to reduce injuries.
Trump didn’t shy away from voicing his views on the NFL’s player and cultural choices either. He criticized the decision to have anti-MAGA rapper Bad Bunny perform at the upcoming Super Bowl, reminding fans of Bad Bunny’s refusal to tour in the US because of fears over ICE raids.
Despite his mixed relationship with the NFL, Trump’s moment in the Fox booth was a rare and memorable sporting detour during a tough political period. Whether you loved or hated his commentary style, it was clear the president was enjoying himself and trying to connect with the American sports fan in a new way.
The commentary may have taken an unexpected turn, but reading the game with clarity is what our Bankroll U playmakers do best, turning even the wildest moments into sharp, winning insights.