MaddowBlog-Trump and his team add the NFL to its growing list of culture war targets

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Given football’s popularity, common sense might suggest the president would be eager to align himself with the league, but he can’t seem to help himself.

Given football’s popularity, common sense might suggest Trump would be eager to align himself with the NFL.

He and his team are instead adding the league to their growing list of culture war targets. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-10-07T19:17:05.298Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-nfl-culture-war-targets-rcna236136

Five years later, Team Trump is still at it. After the league announced that Latin superstar and Trump critic Bad Bunny would headline the next Super Bowl halftime show, a controversial podcast personality asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last week whether the NFL was possibly sending a message to the administration. She replied, “They suck and we’ll win and God will bless us.”

Noem added, in apparent reference to league officials, “They won’t be able to sleep at night. ... They’re so weak.”

This week, the president had some related thoughts of his own.

NEWSMAX: The NFL just chose the Bad Bunny Rabbit or whatever his name, this guy who hates ICE, he doesn't like you. Do you think maybe we should just blow off the NFL, like a boycott?

TRUMP: I think it's absolutely ridiculous, and while we're at it I'd like them to change the kickoff rule.

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-10-07T01:13:58.451Z

.....What’s more, earlier this summer, Trump used his social media platform to argue that the Washington Commanders should return to its previous, offensive name, adding, “I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back. ... I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington.”

Since returning to power, the president has taken steps to exert unusual influence over everything from the economy to higher education, the judiciary to the media, the military to museums, labor unions to law enforcement, health care to corporations, independent federal agencies to banks, cultural institutions to nonprofit organizations, the legal profession to the entertainment industry.

Evidently, it’s time to add professional football to his growing list of culture war targets.