Shedeur Sanders’ slide in the 2025 NFL Draft was one of the biggest sports storylines of the year. The issue was so talked about that U.S. President Donald Trump even made a statement after Sanders wasn’t taken in the first couple of rounds.
In the wake of Sanders’s selection by the Browns in the 5th Round, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says he was mainly drafted due to the President’s statement.
White House Takes Credit for Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft Selection
In a post on “Truth Social,” Donald Trump wrote a long rant about Sanders falling in the NFL Draft, ending his long-winded post.
President Donald Trump on NFL teams passing on Shedeur Sanders in Round 1: pic.twitter.com/kFogXmsRoG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 25, 2025
“Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness. He should be ‘picked’ IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck, Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!”
During a White House press briefing a reporter asked Leavitt about the post, and Leavitt responded by taking credit for Sanders’ getting drafted.
Leavitt on Shedeur Sanders: “All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves.” pic.twitter.com/rAFrAbex2s
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2025
“All I will say is the President put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves on that one.”
While NFL GMs are likely not listening to the president’s scouting advice, the Sanders’ slide finally stopped at Pick No. 144 by the Cleveland Browns, who had previously selected Oregon QB prospect Dillon Gabriel.
While many scouts and analysts may not have had Sanders as a first-round talent, his slide into the Day 3 rounds of 4-7 was still puzzling. The former Colorado Buffalo threw for over 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final college season and was one of the most precise passers in the country.
RELATED: Pilar Sanders Backs Trump’s Take — NFL Owners ‘Stupid’ for Passing on Shedeur Sanders
President Trump has a long-standing relationship with professional football. In the 1980s, Trump, then just a New York businessman and owner of the original USFL’s New Jersey Generals, led the charge in a lawsuit that attempted to force the NFL to merge with the smaller league.
Despite winning the antitrust lawsuit, the USFL ultimately suffered from this lawsuit, which contributed to its bankruptcy. The merger was never forced, but the league and Trump were awarded $3.00 in damages.
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