Trump Says NFL ‘Could Have Probably Postponed’ Paris Game

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the NFL “could have probably postponed” its game scheduled for Sunday in Paris because of the recent civil unrest and violence in France.

The Saints are scheduled to play the Steelers at Stade de France. Trump was asked about the game by reporters Friday outside the White House.

“Well, you worry about it,” Trump said. “I think maybe it’s looking like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France. So you worry about it. I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match, if you want to know … because France is really in trouble. That’s what happens when you go left. That’s what happens when you allow unlimited numbers of people into your country from very unfriendly countries.”

The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday by Front Office Sports. The league said all week that the game would be played as scheduled.

“I think we’ll deal with that,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday at the conclusion of an owners meeting in New York. “We’re involved at the highest levels, both in France on a global basis [and] with our officials here in the United States, including I had a conversation with the Secretary of State a couple days ago. So we’re continuing to make sure we have all the available information, make sure the appropriate steps are being made. We’re guests in the country. We’re going to be good guests. We’re going to do our thing. And I’m confident they’re going to do theirs. So we look forward to it. I’m leaving shortly to go [there] myself.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the conversation with Goodell and told OutKick and Fox News, “Our embassy feels the game will be fine. We have no indication the game will be impacted in any way.”

The NFL will have a heightened security presence around the game, league executive Peter O’Reilly said Tuesday.

“Very high is my comfort level,” Goodell said Wednesday. “Again, we’ve made all the preparations. We’ve been in touch with the appropriate authorities. Protests are not unusual in France, as you know. And that’s something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made.”

Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson, and Steelers owner Art Rooney II met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, according to a post on Twitter/X by the Saints, to “discuss Sunday’s game and the long-term future of the NFL in France.”