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President Donald Trump made his first appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, calling in to mark Veterans Day and discuss topics ranging from military support to college sports and the NFL.
McAfee, a former NFL punter, hosted the show live from Parris Island, South Carolina, home of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. President Trump opened the segment by highlighting his administration’s efforts to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs and expand resources for service members and their families.
Most of the conversation focused on sports. McAfee asked the president whether the U.S. Ryder Cup team would rebound after its recent loss to Europe. “They really sank a lot of putts,” President Trump said, crediting the European squad’s performance.
McAfee also asked the president about the future of college athletics amid sweeping changes to name, image and likeness (NIL) rules that allow student-athletes to earn money outside traditional scholarships.
“Along with stopping wars and building in tariffs and $17 trillion, maybe just put that on your desk,” McAfee joked. “Go ahead and figure out the backend of college sports, Mr. President.”
Trump expressed concern about how NIL deals could reshape college programs. “It is a very serious problem because even football, when they give quarterbacks $12 million, $13 million, $14 million, I read a couple of them, and all of a sudden you’re going to see it’s going to be out of control,” he said. “And even rich colleges are going to go bust because you’re not going to be able to do this.”
Throughout his second term, President Trump has continued strong ties to the sports world. He has attended the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, and several Ultimate Fighting Championship events. This year, he also appeared at the Ryder Cup in New Jersey, a New York Yankees game on Sept. 11, and Sunday’s Washington Commanders game in Landover, Maryland.
Trump closed his ESPN interview by revisiting one of his long-standing complaints about the NFL’s new kickoff rules, which aim to reduce injuries while encouraging more kick returns.