President Trump is drawing attention to the need for reform in college sports.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump described the challenges facing college sports programs and called for action to combat them.
“College Sports, a Great American Institution that produces our many Athletes, Leaders, and Olympic Dominance, is a total “mess,” and everyone is saying that it must be fixed,” President Trump said. “After unending lawsuits and crazed rulings, there are virtually no limits anymore, and soon most Colleges won’t have Sports because each and every one of them will be bankrupt, never to be heard from again.”
President Trump noted that leading sports figures had reached out to him to address the situation.
“University Presidents, Conference Commissioners, Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Athletic Directors all complained to me that it has become a disaster, after years of no action, and that Schools were losing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars a year,” President Trump said. “They compared it to a freight train that can’t be stopped.”
The president celebrated the introduction of legislation aimed at establishing order in college sports. The bipartisan bill includes provisions to establish consistency, preserve athletes’ rights, support women’s and Olympic sports, and amend the Sports Broadcasting Act (SBA).
“Based on these meetings and the expertise of the Leading Authorities, I signed an Executive Order, but I always said that the best solution was to get a Bipartisan Act of Congress to my desk in order to save a long and embarrassing ROAD THROUGH HELL for these Institutions,” President Trump said. “I’d like to thank Senators Ted Cruz, Eric Schmitt, Maria Cantwell, and Chris Coons, among others, for introducing the Protect College Sports Act. This Law resolves many of the most urgent issues challenging our Universities and Student-Athletes, stops the chaos and, most importantly, it may be the last chance to save College Sports, and Colleges themselves, before it’s too late.”
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., described the situation faced by universities, including the elimination of spots on athletic rosters and the cutting of programs. “Collegiate athletics is a hallmark for human development,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Let’s not ruin it with out-of-control chaos. This bill puts new tools and new rules on the table to rein in runaway costs while still preserving NIL, revenue sharing, and women’s and Olympic sports.”
Trump urged members of Congress to unite in passing a bill that can be signed into law.
“I urge the House and Senate to come together to pass a final Bipartisan Law, that I can sign this summer, that reflects the views and input of both Chambers. WE HAVE TO SAVE COLLEGE SPORTS!” President Trump said.
