‘May The Best Team Win!’: Trump Sends Message Ahead Of College Football Championship
President Donald Trump loves being the man in the arena. From the broadcast booth of football games to the ringside at UFC main events, Trump is arguably the most sports-centered president this country has ever seen.Trump on Monday shared a good luck message with the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship.“Melania and I congratulate the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes on making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship,” Trump said. “God bless the talented players and dedicated coaches, the families who love and support them, and the faithful fans who cheer them on. May the best team win!”When Trump takes the stands with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday night, it will only be the latest instance of this administration embracing sports. This season alone, Trump has attended the Army-Navy game, an NFL matchup between the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, and, with most of his cabinet in tow, a UFC fight last June.RELATED: Trump And Rubio Get Ready To ‘Bro Out’ At College Football National Championship GameTrump has capitalized on his record of attending sporting events, inviting Americans to see a different side of him from the comfort of their living rooms. Athletes have even used the famous “Trump Dance” to celebrate a score or a knockout.Before the game in Miami, Trump took time to reflect on the history of the sport.“For more than 150 years, college football has been a cherished fixture in American culture,” Trump wrote. “Every fall and winter, massive crowds flock to stadiums in college towns all across our Nation to witness the epic display of loyalty, rivalry, tradition, and regional identity erupting throughout the stands and on the field below.”“From the very first collegiate matchup in 1869, our country’s love of this storied Saturday ritual has been passed down from one generation to the next and endured as an iconic American institution,” the president added.Both Trump and Rubio are connected to the Canes. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, will be playing golf at the University of Miami next year. Rubio has a law degree from The U, and was raised near the campus, just like Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. Like Rubio, Mendoza is a proud Cuban-American who credits his drive to their roots.While Trump did not say which team he was backing in his National Championship message, he emphasized what college football means to Americans.“At its best, college football reflects our timeless American values of family, freedom, unity, and hard work and represents the pinnacle of our national spirit. It is seen in the players whose focus, discipline, and unwavering grit are forged in every practice and workout. It is upheld by the coaches who set high standards, demand greatness, and help cultivate incredible student-athletes — and even better Americans — who stop at nothing to achieve their God-given potential both on and off the field.”Indiana is the No. 1 seed and heavy favorite in the title game. Miami comes in as the No. 10 seed in the 12-team playoff, with the Hurricanes eager for a victory on their home turf. Kickoff is at 7:30 eastern.The president has inserted himself into several sports narratives by praising on-field talent, endorsing players in the NFL Draft, and vouching for coaches. Most recently, Trump went to bat for recently fired NFL coach John Harbaugh. The longtime Baltimore coach just landed a job with the New York Giants after Trump suggested they hire Harbaugh.“The New York Football Giants should hire, without question, John Harbaugh,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “And John, a great guy, should TAKE THE JOB!!!”Then there’s the history-making part of Trump’s fandom: last NFL season, he became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. Right after taking office for the second time, he was in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
