The President of the United States has a clear problem with college football's schedule.
During the end of the 2024 college football season, Ohio State and Notre Dame played in the College Football Playoff national title game. The game happened on a Monday night in Atlanta, Georgia. It just so happened to be that the inauguration was happening on the same day.
President Trump's inauguration was at noon E.T. that day, though, while the College Football Playoff national title game was airing at 8 p.m. E.T. Still, President Trump had a problem with the schedule.
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President Trump was heard complaining about the College Football Playoff national title game happening on the same day of his inauguration.
He accused the college football schedulers of doing it on purpose, too.
President Trump was heard complaining during a clip in the film, "Melania: Twenty Days to History."
“We are competing with the championship game?” Trump asks the person who is helping them plan the day’s events. “How did that happen?”
“I’m unsure, sir,” the man replies.
President Trump responds: “Well, we’ve always had this day, cause this day’s been here for hundreds of years. So, they put a game…”
The man then admits that the administration is “working extremely closely with the networks," likely about inauguration coverage.
“I know, but why did they have to put the national championship at the same time?” asks Trump.
“Unclear,” the man replies.
President Trump then ends the conversation with: “They probably did it on purpose."
The President of the United States ended up being part of the game, too
President Trump ended up making an appearance on ESPN during the College Football Playoff national title game broadcast.
He provided a pre-taped statement to the broadcast.
“With Donald Trump’s Inauguration occurring on the day of the CFP National Championship, it makes sense to include a message from the President, a practice that occurs regularly during major sporting events – including earlier this month from President Biden before the Sugar Bowl,” ESPN said in a statement about the speech.