Donald Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States has consistently been associated with American football, especially college football. But does his history with football go beyond attending games? Did he ever play the sport himself?
Did Donald Trump Ever Play Football?
While Donald Trump did not play college football, his connection to the sport dates back to his youth.
He attended the New York Military Academy, where he was an active three-sport athlete. Trump played football for a year at the academy. One of his classmates has often spoken highly of his skills. One of these classmates, Ted Levine, recalled in an interview with Business Insider that Trump was an incredibly gifted athlete.
FOLLOW ALONG: Track Every Transfer Portal Entrant in our CFN Transfer Portal Tracker now!
“He could play football, soccer—he was physically and mentally gifted.”
Another classmate even suggested that Trump had the potential to pursue a professional baseball career, particularly as a pitcher. Though Trump’s football career didn’t extend beyond high school, his early experiences with the sport helped foster a long-term relationship with it.
A Look Back at Trump’s College Football Engagements
Donald Trump’s foray into professional football has been marked by bold ambitions and legal battles. In the 1980s, he attempted to gain ownership of an NFL team, but his efforts were unsuccessful, leading to several conflicts with the NFL.
Trump’s interest in professional football led him to purchase the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League (USFL), which was in direct competition with the NFL at the time. His involvement with the USFL would prove to be both controversial and short-lived.
Trump’s role in the USFL is notable for his leadership in a lawsuit against the NFL, where he attempted to force a merger between the two leagues. The USFL won the lawsuit, but the results were less favorable than Trump had hoped.
The legal victory was limited in scope and ultimately had little impact on the NFL, while the USFL soon folded, unable to sustain itself in the face of growing competition. Despite this setback, Trump’s ventures into professional football were a reflection of his ambition and desire to shape the landscape of the sport.
Trump’s time as the owner of the New Jersey Generals was one of the more publicized episodes in his relationship with football, but it ended without the success he had hoped for.
Trump’s connection with college football has been further showcased in his attendance at some of the sport’s biggest events. One notable example is his appearance at the 2019 LSU vs. Alabama game, which was one of the most anticipated matchups of that season.
Trump’s presence at this game and at the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship Game cemented his role as a supporter of college football.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
