The NPR Politics Podcast
Episode: Donald Trump Is Sports-Fan-In-Chief
Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: Tamara Keith, Frank Ordonez, Domenico Montanaro
Episode Overview
This episode explores President Donald Trump's unique and unusually visible role as "Sports-Fan-In-Chief" during his second term. The hosts break down how Trump's affinity for sports—especially men's professional events—has shaped his presidential brand, his cultural reach, and even his political strategy. They examine the intersection of sports, entertainment, and politics in the Trump era, how his relationship with athletes and leagues has evolved between his first and second terms, and the political significance of his frequent appearances at major sports events.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Trump’s Second-Term Shift From Political Rallies to Sporting Events
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Trump’s Public Persona:
Trump has spent more time attending high-profile sporting events than holding traditional rallies to promote his policy agenda.- “He likes being part of the big games, and he also likes seeing himself on the big stage.” – Frank Ordonez (02:34)
- Sporting events offer a non-political (but highly visible) way to connect with the public.
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The Power of Sports Association:
For Trump, sports present a universal appeal that cuts across political divides—though not always without controversy for him.- “Sports are supposed to kind of cut across politics, though that hasn’t always been the case for Trump.” – Frank Ordonez (03:21)
Trump’s Inner Circle and Sports-World Ties
- Trump has longstanding and close friendships with sports industry leaders like UFC’s Dana White and WWE’s Linda McMahon.
- “Some of Trump’s closest allies are in sports... those fans were also a key part of Trump’s campaign as he sought to return to the White House.” – Frank Ordonez (03:21)
- Linda McMahon now serves as Secretary of Education in Trump’s second term.
Sporting Events as Political Rallies
- The atmosphere of Trump events often mirrors the energy and theatrics of wrestling or UFC matches.
- “They feel like a WWE event where he’s whooping up the crowd... this big dopamine rush... It’s the same thing, I think, in a lot of ways, with Trump.” – Domenico Montanaro (04:06)
- Trump is drawn to events with a spectacle or “show” quality, reminiscent of professional wrestling.
Mixed Receptions at Sporting Events
- Trump has seen varied responses from crowds at sporting events:
- Super Bowl XX: “A mix of cheers as he kind of appears on the Jumbotron...” – Frank Ordonez (05:25)
- Yankees/Tigers on 9/11: “A mix of cheers and jeers.”
- Army-Navy Game: “Widely supported.”
- FIFA events and others: Often receives “tepid feedback.”
Trump as Sports Commentator
- Trump occasionally steps into live sports commentary:
- “Trump was at Washington Commander’s Detroit Lions game… and he even went into the broadcast booth.” – Domenico Montanaro (06:35)
- These moments reinforce his “everyman” image.
No True Team Loyalty—Brand over Clubs
- Unusual for a self-proclaimed sports fan, Trump is not publicly identified with any single team.
- “What we know he’s a fan of is MAGA because he always has that red hat on.” – Domenico Montanaro (07:49)
- “He is a fan of players and owners who he gets along with... but there’s no one who he’s going to go down with. He’s always with the winner.” – Frank Ordonez (08:11)
- Allegiances built around winners and personal relationships reflect his political posture.
Authentic Fandom vs. Political Posturing
- Trump’s sports enthusiasm appears genuine rather than manufactured for political optics.
- “[With Trump] this isn’t fake. I think a lot of politicians pretend to be sports fans... I think this is Trump.” – Domenico Montanaro (09:28)
- Visuals and videos from sporting events are delivered virally by his team to expand reach.
Historical Context: Trump’s Relationship With the World of Sports
- Trump’s business history includes owning a USFL football team and supporting UFC when it was less mainstream.
- Owning sports teams is a mark of status among billionaires, though Trump never achieved the cultural cachet he sought.
- “Trump was never able to get into that clique... it’s a very Queens versus Manhattan thing...” – Domenico Montanaro (13:09)
First Term vs. Second Term: Trump and the NFL
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First Term:
- Trump went all-in on culture wars around the NFL, most explosively over Colin Kaepernick’s protest.
- “He criticized Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee… really dove into the culture wars...” – Tamara Keith (14:32)
- The Philadelphia Eagles’ White House snub and event cancellation were a flashpoint.
- Trump went all-in on culture wars around the NFL, most explosively over Colin Kaepernick’s protest.
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Second Term:
- Less direct controversy, with leagues seeming to avoid antagonizing Trump:
- “A lot of professional industries have kind of shied away from taking Trump on because they just don’t want to face his wrath.” – Frank Ordonez (15:32)
- Trump did criticize choices like the Super Bowl halftime act (“Bad Bunny”), but didn’t escalate.
- Less direct controversy, with leagues seeming to avoid antagonizing Trump:
Gender Gap: Trump and Women’s Sports
- Trump is much less involved or celebrated at women’s sports events.
- “There’s a lot of women in these sports leagues who have spoken out more vocally against Trump... I don’t think Trump is going to be welcome at any of those events anytime soon.” – Domenico Montanaro (17:43)
- When he does mention women’s sports, it’s often in the context of the transgender athlete political debate.
The Road Ahead: Major Sports and Trump’s Legacy
- Trump’s presidency will overlap with “mega-events”:
- UFC event on White House lawn (America’s 250th anniversary, 2026)
- FIFA World Cup across North America (2026)
- NFL Draft on the National Mall (2027)
- LA Olympics (2028)
- “They say that the most valuable resource is the President’s time... the President, is spending a lot of time physically going to sporting events, not just watching them on TV, making himself sort of a central character.” – Tamara Keith (19:43)
- With no need for reelection, Trump’s motivation is legacy, cultural relevance, and—according to Domenico—possibly “sports-washing” his controversial reputation:
- “He wants to be at the center of culture. He’s thinking about his legacy... I think you can apply that to some of what Trump is doing, where he has such strong disapproval of him by half the country. And... if he’s out there at these events, everyone is watching. He can try to round the edges, sand them down and say, I‘m not as bad as these liberals think I am.” – Domenico Montanaro (19:43)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Trump’s Event Personality:
“If you go to any of his events, they feel like a WWE event. He’s whooping up the crowd…”
– Domenico Montanaro (04:06) -
On Team Loyalty:
“He’s always with the winner. So whoever’s the winner, he’s with.”
– Frank Ordonez (08:11) -
On Sports as Political Strategy:
“This is a way to get to people that you wouldn’t otherwise. And Trump just soaks all of this up.”
– Frank Ordonez (10:30) -
On Culture Wars and Sports:
“He criticized Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee as a protest for racial justice. And Trump really dove into the culture wars on that.”
– Tamara Keith (14:32) -
On Avoiding Fresh Controversy:
“Many of the teams and the owners just don’t want to have the same kind of battle that they did in first administration... the professional industries have kind of shied away from taking Trump on...”
– Frank Ordonez (15:32) -
On Gender Dynamics:
“I also think it has to do with this sort of old school macho attitude... these guys are the tough guys... making people bloodied in very different kinds of way...”
– Domenico Montanaro (17:43) -
On Legacy and “Sports-Washing”:
“He wants to be at the center of culture. He’s thinking about his legacy... I think you can apply that to some of what Trump is doing...”
– Domenico Montanaro (19:43)
Key Timestamps
- 01:42 — Episode’s main focus: Trump as “Sports-Fan-In-Chief”
- 02:34 — Why Trump prefers sporting events to rallies
- 03:21 — Trump’s sports-world connections & campaign alliances
- 04:06 — Sports event/rally atmospherics
- 05:25 — Reporting from Super Bowl and other major events
- 06:35 — Trump’s foray into live sports commentary
- 07:49 — Discussion on Trump’s lack of a “home team”
- 09:28 — Authenticity of Trump’s sports fandom
- 13:09 — Billionaire sports ownership & Trump’s status
- 14:32 — Comparing first and second term NFL controversies
- 15:32 — Teams and leagues’ new approach to Trump
- 17:43 — Limited engagement with women’s sports
- 19:43 — Trump's anticipated role in upcoming mega sporting events, legacy, and the “sports-washing” idea
Conclusion
President Trump’s unprecedented embrace of professional sports as a centerpiece of his presidency reflects both a genuine personal passion and a calculated political strategy. His relentless pursuit of the sports spotlight—eschewing traditional rallies for stadiums, boxing rings, and broadcast booths—cements his brand as a populist showman, blurring the lines between politics, entertainment, and cultural influence. As he presides over an upcoming slate of history-making sports events, the intersection of sports and American politics will remain as compelling—and contentious—as ever.