Donald Trump supporters trolled ESPN after the network broadcast a message from the president during Monday’s college football national championship.
Trump appeared on the ESPN coverage at halftime of the CFP final between Ohio State and Notre Dame.
It came just hours after he was sworn in for a second term as president, following victory over Kamala Harris in November’s election.
Trump told viewers that ‘the golden age of America has just begun’. He also congratulated both Notre Dame and Ohio State – ‘two tremendous teams’ – for reaching the national championship after a ‘long season’.
The video message went viral on social media, with many Trump fans mocking ESPN for putting him on their network.
‘ESPN is fuming that they had to just put Trump on,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘ESPN just played Trump?!? We are so back, baby. Wokeness is DEAD,’ another said.
Donald Trump delivered a message to football fans during the CFP national championship
His message was broadcast at halftime of Ohio State’s game against Notre Dame on Monday
‘Never would’ve ever imagined seeing Trump on ESPN. Suck it libs!’ added a third. ‘ESPN – we repeat, ESPN – airs a message from President Trump during halftime of the national championship game,’ said another. ‘This wasn’t on the bingo card.’
ESPN explained its decision in a statement via Awful Announcing: ‘With Donald Trump’s Inauguration occurring on the day of the CFP National Championship, it makes sense to include a message from the President,’ the network said.
‘(It is) a practice that occurs regularly during major sporting events – including earlier this month from President Biden before the Sugar Bowl.’
Trump is a big college football fan and in September the 78-year-old was among the crowd at Alabama’s huge clash with Georgia – despite major security concerns after two assassination attempts. ‘This is really big-time football,’ he said at the time.
On Monday, meanwhile, he spoke to his ‘great fellow Americans, telling viewers: ‘This has been an historic and exciting day for our country.
‘In recent years, our people have suffered greatly but starting now we’re going to bring America back. And make it safer, richer and prouder than ever before.
‘We will have a nation filled with compassion, strength and exceptionalism. Through our power and might we will stop wars and we will lead the world to peace.
‘We will be respected again and admired again – admired like we haven’t been in many many years.
‘We’ll put America first and, by doing so, we’re going to make America great again. In less than three months since the election you have already seen it happening.
Trump’s message came just hours after he was sworn in for a second term as president
The president congratulated both Ohio State and Notre Dame for reaching the showpiece
‘You can feel the excitement and you can see the confidence and spirit returning to our nation.
‘Together we’re going to lead our country to glorious new heights, the golden age of America has just begun.
‘To all of the players and fans watching tonight, I know it’s been a long and difficult journey – it’s been a long season but you have two tremendous teams. Get to the game, go out and fight hard, fight fair and let the better team win. I’m going to enjoy watching it. Thank you and good night.’
Back in September, ABC was accused of deliberately limiting coverage of Trump at the Alabama-Georgia game.
Critics claimed the network showed ‘complete bias’ after it failed to air the then-Republican candidate receiving a hero’s welcome, with tens of thousands of fans cheering when he appeared on the stadium’s big screen.
A few weeks later, Trump was also due to see Ohio State in action, when the Buckeyes visited the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The then-Republican nominee planned to take in the action following a rally in Pennsylvania. But the 78-year-old ended up skipping the game between the two college football powerhouses.
Trump has also been a vocal critics of the NFL over a recent change to its kickoff rule, which is designed to reduce injuries and incentivize players to run the ball back.
‘I don’t know what they’re doing with the kickoff return in the NFL… it looks so bad, and I noticed they haven’t done that in college, and they shouldn’t do it, and I think the NFL should go back,’ Trump said back in November.
Back in September 2024, the president attended Alabama’s game against Georgia
‘I doubt it’s any more dangerous… I think (the NFL) made a terrible mistake of doing that.’
Ahead of the election, Trump joined former football players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan on the ‘Bussin’ With The Boys’ podcast.
He opened up on a failed attempt to buy an NFL franchise and lifted the lid on his days playing tight end.
Despite claiming that he could ‘catch the ball good’, Trump said: ‘I didn’t like some guy who was lifting weights all day long and came from a bad neighborhood seeing me… and they were tackling hard.’
Trump was a three-sport athlete at New York Military Academy and played on the football team for one year.
A decade ago, meanwhile, the president offered $1billion cash to buy the Buffalo Bills, following the death of founder and Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson.
Trump was one of three known finalists, with a group led by rock star Jon Bon Jovi also showing interest in acquiring the team.
