Think Trump and the NFL finally buried the hatchet? Their decades-long ‘feud’ is legendary, from early team ownership battles to presidential clashes over player protests. A recent Oval Office meeting hinted at peace, but history suggests their complicated relationship always has another twist. Is this the end, or just halftime?

American football fans were recently surprised to witness the National Football League’s top official, Roger Goodell, standing alongside Donald Trump in the Oval Office, signaling a potential truce in a relationship fraught with tension for over four decades. While Trump’s frequent public clashes with the NFL during his presidency garnered significant media attention, the roots of their complicated dynamic stretch back long before his 2017 inauguration, involving personal ambitions, high-stakes lawsuits, and political confrontations.

Trump’s initial venture into professional football began in 1983 when he purchased the New Jersey Generals in the nascent United States Football League (USFL). Driven by a desire to expand his burgeoning real-estate empire and, crucially, to acquire an NFL franchise, Trump quickly became a dominant figure within the USFL. His audacious vision included challenging the established NFL directly by shifting the USFL’s schedule to compete head-to-head in the autumn-winter season, a move that would ultimately set the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

The USFL, under Trump’s instigation, subsequently filed a colossal anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL in 1986, alleging monopolistic practices regarding television contracts. Trump, a central figure in this legal battle, openly hoped the lawsuit would force a merger between the leagues, thereby securing his long-held ambition of owning an NFL team and potentially even a Trump-branded stadium in Manhattan. This period marked a significant turning point, cementing the perception of a direct and personal Donald Trump feud with the league establishment.

Following the USFL’s eventual demise despite a legal victory with nominal damages, Trump’s aspirations for NFL ownership persisted. He engaged in discussions to acquire the New England Patriots in 1988 and later, more prominently, bid $1 billion for the Buffalo Bills in 2014. These failed attempts, particularly the Buffalo Bills bid, are highlighted by some as a pivotal moment, with claims from sources like ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith suggesting Trump explicitly linked his potential presidential run to these setbacks, illustrating the deep entanglement of his personal ambition with the world of professional football.

Upon entering the White House, the NFL became a frequent target of presidential criticism, particularly regarding player protests during the national anthem. The Kaepernick Protests, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick to highlight racial injustice and police brutality, ignited a fierce cultural and political debate. Trump vocally urged team owners to fire protesting players and called for fan boycotts, transforming the sports field into a political battleground and intensifying his already complex relationship with the league, making Sports Politics a dominant narrative.

The politicization of sports under Trump extended to the traditional White House visits by championship teams. These events, usually celebratory, became loaded with political undertones, with several players from Super Bowl-winning teams like the Patriots and Eagles opting out due to political objections. Trump even famously rescinded an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. This trend underscored the deep divisions and the unprecedented intersection of professional athletics with high-level politics during his administration.

However, a surprising turn of events occurred when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris joined Trump in the Oval Office to announce Washington, D.C., as the host city for the 2027 NFL Draft. This appeared to be a significant reconciliation, suggesting Trump had finally achieved a long-sought goal related to the league. The announcement seemed to signify a new chapter, yet historical context hints at the potential for further twists in this enduring Donald Trump saga.

Adding another layer of complexity, Trump also recently weighed in on the Washington Commanders’ name change, publicly stating that the local council’s approval of the draft deal might be conditional on the team reverting to its former, controversial name. This demonstrates his continued engagement with, and willingness to influence, the league’s operations, even on matters of team identity. The Football Ownership ambition that fueled his early USFL days continues to manifest in various forms.

Ultimately, Donald Trump’s four-decade relationship with the NFL remains a compelling narrative of ambition, conflict, and unexpected turns. From a determined USFL owner seeking to rival the established league and a litigant in a major anti-trust lawsuit, to a president clashing over player protests and now a figure seemingly making amends with the league, the intricate dance between Trump and America’s most popular sport continues to evolve, constantly reminding observers that in the world of Sports Politics, nothing is ever truly simple or settled.