President Donald Trump Is Pushing For Big Changes From The NFL
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Donald Trump continues to push the NFL for two vital rule changes before the 2026 season. Trump has criticized both the league’s new kickoff rules and the increasing number of games moving to streaming services. He believes both changes make the sport worse for fans.
Since returning to office, Trump has attended several major football events, including the Super Bowl. He has also continued sharing strong opinions about the NFL during interviews and public appearances.
Recently, Trump focused heavily on the league’s streaming deals. He argued that many fans cannot afford several subscriptions just to watch football each week. Also he warned that the NFL could lose viewers if more games move away from regular television.
“It’s tough,” Trump said earlier this month. “You’ve got people that love football. They’re great people. They don’t make enough money to go and pay this. It’s tough. And they could be killing the golden goose.”
He also added, “There’s something very sad when they take football away from many, many people. Very sad. I don’t like it.”
The NFL has increased its partnerships with streaming companies in recent years. Some games now air only on streaming platforms instead of national TV networks. League officials support those deals because they bring in large amounts of money and help attract younger viewers.
Fans Push Back On Trump’s Kickoff Comments
Trump also renewed his criticism of the NFL’s updated kickoff rule. The league introduced the format to improve player safety and increase returns. The setup keeps players mostly still until the returner catches the ball.
Trump said the change hurts the excitement of the game. He shared those thoughts during an interview with Pat McAfee last October.
“I hate the kickoff in football,” Trump said. “I think it’s so terrible. I think it’s so demeaning. I think it hurts the game and hurts the pageantry.”
He continued, “The ball is in the air and nobody is moving. It’s supposed to be when the ball is in the air, when the ball is played, you’re supposed to be moving.”
Many NFL fans disagreed with Trump’s stance on the kickoff rule. Some defended the change because they believe it protects players from serious injuries.
“The NFL reported a 43% decrease in concussions during the 2024 season compared to the 2021-2023 average due to these changes,” one fan wrote.
The NFL reported a 43% decrease in concussions during the 2024 season compared to the 2021-2023 average due to these changes.
— TOSU (@osu_buck_i) November 12, 2025
Another fan added, “This guy only cares about optics. He’s clearly not a ball Knower.”
This guy only cares about optics. He’s clearly not a ball
Knower— BetsAndBiff🦅 (@BetBiff) November 13, 2025
While many agreed with Trump’s concerns about streaming, but there is also much stronger pushback against his criticism of the kickoff format. So, as the debate around the league’s future rules, let’s see what happens next.
