President Trump Wants Army-Navy Game’s Sole Broadcast Slot
President Donald Trump expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Army-Navy game is not sidelined by other events next season. On Saturday, he took to social media to announce plans for an executive order that would provide the game with an “exclusive four-hour broadcast slot,” meaning no other games would compete for airtime during that period.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized the game’s significance, calling it “one of America’s greatest traditions of unparalleled patriotism, courage and honor!” He expressed concern that the prestige of the Army-Navy game might be overshadowed by the rising influence of college football playoff games and television revenue. “No more!” he stated firmly.
He further declared, “Under my administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army and Navy, and Army and Navy only! I will soon be signing a historic executive order that will secure an exclusive 4-hour broadcast slot, which puts this national event above commercial postseason games. No other game or team can violate this time slot!”
Trump offered a perspective on the rivalry, noting, “On the field they are our rivals, but on the battlefield they are America’s unstoppable patriots, defending our country with tremendous strength and heart.” He called on networks to recognize the importance of this tradition, adding, “We must protect our traditions, and we must protect the players who protect us.” He concluded with an impassioned, “God bless America and God bless our great Army-Navy game!”
However, Trump did not clarify how this executive order would affect CBS Sports, which has been broadcasting the Army-Navy games since 1996 and holds the rights through 2038.
The most recent game took place on December 13, where Navy narrowly triumphed 17-16, coinciding with the LA Bowl featuring Washington and Boise State.
Current developments also reflect a broader conversation within the NCAA about college football playoff expansions. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is pushing for a 16-team playoff, while Big Ten commissioner Tony Petiti is reportedly advocating for a 24-team format. If an agreement isn’t reached by January 23, the existing 12-team playoff system will remain in place through the 2026 season.
