• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Donald Trump’s CFP Message Reignites ESPN Culture War Debate

Trump recorded the message Monday afternoon, between his inauguration ceremony in the morning and the game’s kickoff

The Coloradoan

ESPN’s “MegaCast” offered viewers 11 different ways to watch the national championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame. But to some, the most eye-popping moment came when President Donald J. Trump appeared on their screens to tout a “golden age of America”—while wishing both schools good luck.

Many viewers cringed at ESPN seemingly bending the knee toward the U.S. president who famously ripped the network (as well as former anchor Jemele Hill) during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021.  

“Whyyyy did @espn give Trump airtime during the National Championship Game???  WTF WAS THAT???” wrote one outraged viewer on X/Twitter. Added another: “It’s official. ESPN is an abbreviation for Eagerly Serving Pathological Narcissists. Showing that 90-second ad from Donald Trump was some serious 1984 stuff.” 

After being roundly criticized for not airing the pregame moment of silence and national anthem at the Sugar Bowl following the terror attack in New Orleans, ESPN made sure it did so in Atlanta on Monday night.

My sources tell me Trump recorded the message Monday afternoon, between his inauguration ceremony in the morning and the game’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. In a statement, ESPN defended itself by noting U.S. presidents frequently appear during big sporting events. 

“With Donald Trump’s Inauguration occurring on the day of the CFP National Championship, it makes sense to include a message from the President, a practice that occurs regularly during major sporting events—including earlier this month from President [Joe] Biden before the Sugar Bowl,” an ESPN spokesperson said Monday night.

Trump returns to office at the apex of his political powers. He, his appointees, and elected Republicans control the presidency, the executive branch, Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Given his immediate purge of 1,000 Biden appointees, Trump will not waste time settling old scores and picking new fights.

Legacy sports media giants like ESPN owner Disney, Comcast, Paramount, and Fox don’t want to engage in a culture war with the president. He’s got too much regulatory power over their interests, their mergers, their business futures—and a Roman emperor–like willingness to reward his friends and punish his enemies.

The tech giants don’t want to challenge him either. If you watched Monday’s inauguration ceremony, you saw Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, and Tim Cook of Apple lining up to kiss the ring. On Monday, we saw billionaire Larry Ellison join Trump at the White House. Yes, that’s the same Ellison who bankrolled the deal to flip top recruit Bryce Underwood to Michigan from LSU because his wife, Jolin Zhu, is an alum. These tech oligarchs are rushing headlong into sports, forging deals with the NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS. They’re eager to get on Trump’s good side, not antagonize him.

Meanwhile, sports personalities are not afraid of being canceled for supporting Trump anymore. Everybody from UFC boss Dana White, Conor McGregor, and Mike Tyson to Jon Jones and Jake and Logan Paul made the scene at his second inauguration Monday. 

Even the mighty NFL is taking a diplomatic approach. Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump blasted the country’s richest, most powerful sports league for allowing its players to follow the example of Colin Kaepernick by protesting for racial and social justice. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out!’” declared Trump. “He’s fired. He’s fired!’”

Four years later, the vibe is completely different. Kneeling during the anthem as Kaepernick did rarely happens now, but several NFL players mimicked the “Trump Dance” during games this season. Some thought the league would ban the Trump-inspired shimmy performed by players like Brock Bowers of the Raiders and Calvin Ridley of the Titans.  Instead, the league said it was A-OK. 

“There’s no issue with a celebratory dance,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy [no relation] told FOS. As for whether the NFL’s TV partners should cover the dances, McCarthy said: “It’s up to the networks to cover them as they see fit.”

As Winston Churchill said, “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth.” Look for sports leagues and media companies to mind their own business—and stick to sports—while Trump runs the show.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

May 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Derek Jeter walks the red carpet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, ahead of the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Players’ Tribune Is Still Kicking 11 Years Later

Founder Derek Jeter is still closely involved in the publication.

NHL Raises Concerns Over 2026 Olympic Arena’s Delayed Construction

The commissioner says construction progress in Italy remains a deep concern.

Texas-Oklahoma Gets 8.7M Viewers, Most-Watched CFB Game of Week 7

The Red River Rivalry was the most-watched game of the weekend.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.

MLB Postseason TV Ratings Surge to Highest Levels Since 2010

Audiences continue to grow, extending a season-long trend.
Clay Travis at Front Office Sports Tuned In
October 14, 2025

Clay Travis Is Planning His Next Moves As a Free Agent

Travis’s current deals with OutKick, Fox, and iHeartMedia all expire this year.
October 14, 2025

Belichick’s Tar Heels Are Losing Momentum on the Field—and on TV

ESPN passed on airing Virginia–North Carolina on Oct. 25.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
exclusive
October 13, 2025

Max Kellerman to Call TKO’s Zuffa Boxing on Paramount

Kellerman called the Canelo Álvarez–Terence Crawford fight in September.
October 13, 2025

CBS Sports, TNT Sports Under One Roof? Paramount Eyes WBD

Discussions continue about a potential media mega-merger.
October 12, 2025

Mark Sanchez Breaks Silence Following Arrest, Hospitalization

Fallout from the Fox analyst’s violent incident continues.
October 9, 2025

NFL Viewership Reaches Highest Level Since 2010, Up 8% from 2024

Through Week 5, the league’s audience levels are at a 15-year high.