Trump Signs Executive Order on Army-Navy Game
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order titled “Save America’s Game,” fulfilling a promise to maintain the tradition of the Army-Navy football game. This took place during a visit from cadets at the White House. In a recent matchup, Navy triumphed over Army with a narrow 17-16 victory, which contributed to an impressive season for Navy, earning them the Commander in Chief Trophy and marking the first back-to-back 10-win seasons ever in their history.
As the winners celebrated, President Trump signed the executive order after months of discussions about the growing College Football Playoff. He remarked that the Army-Navy game is a unique and cherished event in sports, and the increasing playoff expansion had been encroaching on this special tradition. He declared that “the second Saturday in December” would henceforth be reserved exclusively for the Army-Navy game, stating emphatically that no other college football games would take place during this period.
In a light-hearted manner, Trump acknowledged that lawsuits could arise from this decision, but he expressed confidence in winning any legal challenges. “We’ll be sued, but we’ll win,” he said. Emphasizing the importance of the tradition, he added, “This is more than just a game; it’s a significant part of our heritage.”
The order stipulates that broadcasts of college football games, particularly the College Football Playoff and other postseason games, should not interfere with the Army-Navy game. Navy’s head coach, Brian Newberry, expressed gratitude for the new executive order, calling the game a “soulful” tradition that deserves protection.
Earlier this year, Trump had hinted at this move on social media, voicing concerns that the Army-Navy game risked losing prominence against the backdrop of an expanding playoff system fueled by television revenue. He has shown a pronounced interest in college football during his second term, convening discussions with various influential figures in the sport to tackle pressing issues, including NCAA authority and name, image, and likeness (NIL) concerns.
