Podcast Summary: "How Trump is Leveraging Sports and Sports Culture for His Political Brand"

Podcast: Consider This from NPR
Episode Date: December 28, 2025
Host: Tamara Kelly
Featured Guest: Christine Brennan, Sports Columnist at USA Today
Additional Commentary: Clay Travis, founder of Outkick

Overview

This episode explores President Donald Trump’s unique relationship with American sports and how he actively leverages sporting events and sports culture to amplify his political brand. Drawing on perspectives from veteran sports columnist Christine Brennan and sports commentator Clay Travis, the episode examines Trump's hands-on involvement in major sporting events and the potential implications for future global competitions held in the United States.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Immersion in Sports Events

• Recent Engagement: Trump announced the launch of the "Patriot Games," a four-day national athletic competition for top high school athletes across the country.
• Visibility: Since returning to office, Trump has attended more than a dozen major sporting events in a single year, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, US Open, Ryder Cup, and UFC matches.
• Personal Interest:
  • Clay Travis highlights Trump’s genuine sports enthusiasm, noting his dual viewing setup on Air Force One:

    “He’s a huge sports fan. Like this isn’t fake. I think a lot of politicians pretend… I think this is Trump.” (01:40)

2. From Sports Critic to Sports Celebrity

• Contrast with First Term: Unlike his first term, when celebrations were sometimes canceled due to controversy (e.g., Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles declining a White House visit), Trump has now become a centerpiece at sporting events, often receiving warm receptions from athletes.
• White House Official: Remarks that event clips featuring Trump “go, quote, insanely viral.” (03:48)

3. Trump’s Personal Sports History and Branding

• Longevity in Sports Promotion:
  • Christine Brennan recalls covering the 1989 "Tour de Trump" cycling event, emphasizing Trump’s decades-long pattern of attaching his name to sports for visibility and branding:

    “Donald Trump has inserted himself and, and sponsored and supported sports in a way that I believe no other US President ever has. It takes it to a whole new level.” (04:25)

• Golf Empire: Owns 16 golf courses, with five more planned.

4. Sports Fandom, Ownership, and Motivations

• Team Loyalty: Trump is less a fan of specific teams and more interested in winning and ownership.
  • Christine Brennan:

    “As far as I know, I have not seen him root for anyone, although he owned the USFL team… So clearly, you know, if he owns something, I guess he’s a fan of it.” (05:50)

• Motivation: Sports offer competition, publicity, and the limelight—elements Trump thrives on as both a human being and a politician.

5. The Media Megaphone and Social Media Influence

• Trump’s expansive use of social media allows him unparalleled reach into the sports world, amplifying his presence even when not physically at events:

  “He can insert himself there in a way that sports fans are all over social media, so they’re reading every word.” (06:31)

6. Memorable Moments and Aggressive Visibility

• World Cup Club Finals: Trump lingered on stage alongside the trophy and players, resisting diplomatic nudges to step aside—a symbol of his desire to remain at the center of attention.
  • “He wouldn’t leave… he just wanted to be a part of all of it. So, you know, he’s in the pictures, he’s in the videos.” (07:11)

7. Upcoming Sports Calendar: A Presidency Centered on Global Sports

• Major Future Events:
  • Patriot Games, USA-hosted FIFA World Cup (2026), UFC Fight Night on South Lawn, NFL Draft on the National Mall, and 2028 LA Olympics.
• Historic Opportunity:
  • Christine Brennan:

    “This is his moment. Donald Trump has lived his entire life to have the good fortune… [for] these big sports events [to] come right to his doorstep. And he’s gonna take full advantage of that.” (08:19)

• Global Reach: Billions of viewers set the stage for Trump’s visibility far beyond traditional political platforms:

  “There’s no other venue, no other endeavor that will have the eyeballs that these sporting events will.” (09:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Clay Travis on Authentic Fandom:

  “I think a lot of politicians pretend to be sports fans… I think this is Trump.” (01:40)

• Christine Brennan on Trump and Sports:

  “Trump has inserted himself and, and sponsored and supported sports in a way that I believe no other US President ever has.” (04:25)

• Christine Brennan on Trump’s love of winning:

  “Donald Trump always wants to attach himself to winners. He’s everywhere.” (06:31)

• World Cup Incident:

  “He wouldn’t leave. And Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, was ushering him off the stage, and Trump stayed with the trophy lift.” (07:11)

• On Global Audience:

  “They estimate that 5 billion people watch the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the FIFA World cup will have billions as well.” (09:36)

• Summing Up Trump’s Opportunity:

  “This is his moment. Donald Trump has lived his entire life to have the good fortune and great luck to have these big sports events come right to his doorstep. And he’s gonna take full advantage of that.” (08:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:00: Overview of Trump's sports initiatives and recent attendance at events
• 03:48–04:12: Viral nature of Trump’s sports appearances; introduction of Christine Brennan
• 04:25–05:37: Trump’s decades of sports promotion; "Tour de Trump" anecdote
• 05:50–06:29: Discussion of Trump’s approach to sports fandom and winning
• 07:11–08:19: World Cup trophy incident and future event speculation
• 08:19–09:57: The alignment of global sports events with Trump’s presidency and implications

Conclusion

This episode compellingly details how President Trump has elevated the traditional intersection of sports and politics. His authentic (and strategic) embrace of American sports culture, combined with a rare sports calendar aligned with his presidency, is amplifying his image on a domestic and global scale. The opportunity to leverage billions of viewers through iconic events marks a new era in presidential branding—one Christine Brennan describes as unprecedented and, perhaps, a culmination of Trump’s lifelong pursuit of the limelight.

Guest Attribution:

• Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist and author of On Her Game
• Clay Travis, founder of Outkick

Host:

• Tamara Kelly