Trump, 79, Forces America to Watch 4-Hour Football Game

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Daily Beast

Updated Jan. 18 2026 9:36PM EST / Published Jan. 18 2026 8:28PM EST


President Donald Trump wants Americans to watch the Army-Navy football match whether they like it or not. Trump, 79, announced in a Truth Social post on Saturday night that he planned to sign an executive order mandating an “exclusive four-hour broadcast window” to air the annual matchup between the two military service academies.

The 2026 Army-Navy game will take place on Dec. 12 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It is held every December and is played between cadets from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

“The Army-Navy Game is one of our Greatest American Traditions — Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor! This incredible Tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more College Playoff Games, and Big TV Money,” he wrote. “NOT ANYMORE!” “Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!” he went on. “No other Game or Team can violate this Time Slot!!!”

Trump said his post served as “notice” to all television networks. CBS, owned by the MAGA-friendly Ellison family through Paramount, has aired the match since 1996 and has exclusive rights to the Army-Navy game until 2038. Telecommunications lawyers and media law experts, however, told The Washington Post that the planned executive order was likely illegal, citing the First Amendment and other regulations.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-forces-america-to-watch-4-hour-football-game/

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He wants to mandate taking over the airwaves with this.

[chicoescuela]

1. He'll kill the ratings for this too.

Good

[MLWR]

10. I won't watch it. I know how to read; I can read a book.

[littlemissmartypants]

39. Depending on the book and our reading speeds, in four hours

Several of us should be able to read several.

I propose we create a Read for America Day that day when we and all of our kids could dedicate that time to reading together.

[JawJaw]

69. Yes, agreed.

That would be a truly patriotic initiative to get behind!

[mountain grammy]

2. Madman

[yardwork]

3. The one word comprehensive description of Trump.

[mountain grammy]

6. Most of the time it's all I got.

No words .

[wolfie001]

22. Yes! 100% correct!

Watching reasonable and intelligent US wealthy business owners and politicians having to suck up and lick that fat pig's small shoes is really vomit inducing.

[Keepthesoulalive]

33. They were the ones that made sure he was elected

Musk, Thiel, Bezos and many others. Jamie Dimon said let’s not criticize him. Before the election they started purchasing large swatches of traditional and internet media. They didn’t want regulation so they backed a demented sociopath. Oh well.

[dem4decades]

4. With a required halftime viewing of Trump in the stands, saluting the flag, good old propaganda.

[Hugin]

5. I have some toothpicks to sort at that time...

Important stuff. Already in my day-timer! In INK!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

20. I hear ya,

I, myself, have paint to watch drying, seems more exciting.

[Seinan Sensei]

35. My sock drawer needs rearranging

[Bengus81]

7. Blah,blah,blah. FUCK OFF and DIE Trump

[creon]

8. yea sure

silly old man

[lonely bird]

9. Welp

Trump is a severely emotionally damaged and cognitively declining danger to the world.

His bluster about this game is meaningless but annoying.

As for the game itself? It is not possible for me to care less.

[displacedvermoter]

11. I have heard Trump is syphilitic

[lonely bird]

16. Wouldn't surprise me

[RazorbackExpat]

71. He probably has every STD under the sun

[onenote]

12. Hyperbole

What Trump wants -- barring networks from airing any other football game during the time when the Army-Navy game is being televised -- is stupid and as an executive order, unlawful and unenforceable.

But characterizing it as seeking to "force" people to watch the Army-Navy game is such an easily rebutted bit of hyperbole is dumb and makes what he actually is doing seem less offensive.

[Bayard]

42. Is that in the Constitution under Presidential Powers?

"The United States will watch what the president demands, including football games, Ted Nugent concerts, and propaganda."

[Torchlight]

65. How does it make it seem less offensive?

[Mollyann]

13. December 2026

Fingers crossed, he'll be taking his dirt nap.

[PSPS]

14. "Just watch the game (and me) and forget about epstein"

[travelingthrulife]

15. Everyone in crowd should have 'Abolish ICE' or 'Release the Epstein Files'

[chernabogg]

17. He won't be around for the next one.

[Deminpenn]

18. Army-Navy already is the only football game played on that Saturday

in December. It's been that way for years. It's the last game of the college football regular season. CBS isn't going to give up its exclusive rights to game either.

I usually watch at least some of it. It's been a true rivalry game since it's inception. I love to see the uniforms each service academy selects to wear to honor its history. One year Army wore the camo uninforms of the 10th Mountain Division. It happened to snow that game and Army's players ended up being very well camoflagued!

[onenote]

44. He's trying to help his buddies at Paramount. CBS probably loves what he's proposing

CBS --owned by Paramount -- has exclusive rights to the Army-Navy game through 2038. What Trump wants wouldn't take away those rights -- it would protect them by ensuring not only that CBS is the only outlet for the game, but that no other football game would compete for viewers when the Army-Navy game is on.

I doubt that the other networks and other football conferences will go along with this idea.

[Deminpenn]

68. There is already no other football game played on the date when Army-Navy play

It has been that way for years. It's the final game of the regular college football season and only game of the day when it's played.

Trump's EO does nothing to change anything. There are so many viewing options now, no one will be "forced" to watch the game.

[onenote]

73. What he wants is protect CBS from competition from other football games

Yes, today the Army-Navy game stands alone -- no other college games are scheduled on the day of the game. But that could, and might well change -- for example, several conference championships, such as the ACC and SEC, are held the week before. But there is nothing that prevents a change in that scheduling for the future and money talks, so it might change. Trump thinks he can prevent that, and thereby protect his Paramount pal from competition --- if the SEC championship was played at the same time as the Army-Navy game, it would significantly reduce viewership for the Army-Navy game.

The headline -- Trump wants to "force" people to watch the Army-Navy game is nonsensical hyperbole. No one can or would be forced to watch the game. But the college football fans would only have one choice -- which is what they have today. And that would be great for Paramount. Fortunately, Trump doesn't have the authority to bar the football conferences from deciding to schedule games against the Army-Navy game if they decide it would be in their financial interest to do so.

[rurallib]

19. After all, he equally dodged service in both branches with bone spurs

Will they present him with some kind of a trophy at half-time?

[riversedge]

50. uga uga. don't even suggest that!!

[creon]

21. No.

In one word:

NO.

[bluestarone]

58. Best answer here!

No beating around the bush I'll just repeat it here. NO!

[creon]

67. thanks

[irisblue]

23. I enjoy watching the Army Navy game myself(#GoNavy)

I am not watching it forced

[KS Toronado]

24. This proves he's not in possession of any smarts.

[iluvtennis]

25. From someone who calls military members "suckers and losers". TSF is a POS. n/t

[Jarqui]

26. I wonder if he'll treat Nielsen's rating of that game like he did Nobel

what an a**hole

He's out of control

[AllaN01Bear]

27. hem

dont have cable or over the air tv nor do i care about footbal or pro sports for that matter.

[czarjak]

28. Halftime Show

Give Vlad A Blow?

[Lokee11]

29. This is the same orange piece of shit that said -

"I don't know if it is the "best" football" . . . during the 2016 game when his stupid ass (after cheating his way past Hillary) was in the booth during the broadcast questioning the "level" of play during the game. Orange "Heel Spur" fuck questioning the athletic level of anything is laughable. FUCK HIM!!

✊!

[AverageOldGuy]

30. Never ever watched the game

But I did serve 28 years of active duty -- Army, 1967-1998, one tour in Vietnam.

[Prairie Gates]

31. The Army-Navy game is a bore of mediocre football

It's a glorified high school game at this point, and most elite football high schools could beat either team.

A snoozefest. Trump again living in the past.

[Diamond_Dog]

32. The Party of Small Government

Demands a football game be played at a certain time and day.

[sinkingfeeling]

34. The little as*hole really does think he's king.

[Layzeebeaver]

36. Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor!

In a football game.

Give me strength…

[malthaussen]

43. Lewis Carroll used to string nonsense words together...

... but his were funny.

-- Mal

[ananda]

37. Bummer, I already don't watch broadcast TV.

So I don't have a better thing to do.

[VTderry]

38. Draft dodger said what?

Nevermind that he would NEVER have been accepted as a student at either institution.

But it's probably all just another grift-- a way to get networks to purchase an exemption (with the funds going directly to TSF's offshore account. )

[muriel_volestrangler]

48. This is the appropriate reaction - laugh at his attempt to associate himself with the military

when he has always been a coward who could only buy his way into any institution of higher learning, because he's also a dumb shit. His personal cowardice is not so important for his unfitness for public office; but his imbecility is.

[usaf-vet]

40. I'm turning off my f*cking TV during those hours. I'll sit in the window and watch it SNOW.

[electric_blue68]

41. Blustering bully. I do have a fun memory of my Uncle on a visit that day waaay back...

Last edited Mon Jan 19, 2026, 06:37 PM - Edit history (1)

With the TV on my dad was Navy, and my uncle was Army. They were yelling, "Army!", "Navy!".

[vapor2]

45. hahaha

can't force me to watch it since I don't like football

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

46. When does the Coast Guard Academy play the Space Force Academy?

I'd look it up on FanDuel, if I ever get FanDuel.

[BumRushDaShow]

47. They have to wait for the outcome

of the Marines Academy vs the Air Force Academy.

[jmowreader]

78. I realize you're being facetious, but...

Space Force doesn't have its own academy; they attend the Air Force Academy.

Believe it or not, the Coast Guard Academy has a football team. It's Division III - the lowest level of NCAA sports - and inside Division III they are well-respected. I looked up the Coast Guard Academy's 2025 schedule and they beat MIT by 10 points...which made me think "MIT has a football team?" Not only do they have one, it's good - in the 2024 season they went undefeated.

[Chellee]

49. Sorry, I'm washing my hair then.

Maybe we can do it... never. Yeah, never's good, does never work for you Donald?

[aeromanKC]

51. Dang, I have to clean the toilets that day.

Bur no worries, I have a DJT toilet bowl scrubber. I'm good.

[appleannie1]

52. If it goes through, I will simply make other plans for Dec. 12.

I like football but not when a game is shoved down my throat. I will even unplug the TV to make sure this household is not counted.

[sheshe2]

53. Reminds me of the Outer Limits Opening

Variation #1

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image; make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits.

Variation #4

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. For the next hour we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to the outer limits.

https://www.innermind.com/outerlimits/info/olopen.htm

[BumRushDaShow]

55. The video

[sheshe2]

57. Oh yes, I remember it well!

[BumRushDaShow]

59. "Outer Limits" and the "Twilight Zone"

Watched both and apparently living both today!!!!

[sheshe2]

60. I did too and loved watching them both.

We are living it and I do hope we will survive it. The jury isn't in on that one yet.

[BumRushDaShow]

61. I chuckle about how the kids today

have no idea what it meant to "adjust the horizontal or vertical" on a TV!

[sheshe2]

62. 😢

Daddy, please come in here and fix the TV again!

[electric_blue68]

64. No kidding! Watched both....

OL often really scared me.

TZ not usually.

[electric_blue68]

63. Watched it, even though it half terrorized me much of the time!

[Rebl2]

54. No problem

I never watch it

[Under The Radar]

56. A logical thinking man would consider that with the new Military budget.....

.......the military academy's would have the best players that money could by considering today's NIL payment system in college football.

[Norrrm]

66. Republican free market capitalism.

[Blackjackdavey]

72. I feel somewhat amused by the reactions to this

Because it seems to me a normal reaction revolves around something like 1. Who cares? That's not at all how shit works anyway, only in broken brain does the idea that everyone is a captive audience of network tv reside. 2. Who cares? Only in broken brain is one captive to network tv. 3. More evidence that our president is addled, petty and incapable of understanding normal American lives.

[BumRushDaShow]

74. "Because it seems to me a normal reaction revolves around something like 1. Who cares?"

Historians "care" because it is the fledgling first step in creating "state-run television" (and by "television", I would more accurately include ANY "media" - print/broadcast/satellite/cable/internet) IF the courts don't halt it first.

[Blackjackdavey]

75. Executive orders

Are not law nor are they precedent setting. They are also not enforceable without coercion and therefore entirely reliant on voluntary cooperation in the absence of coercion. We already have TV, radio and internet providers gleefully broadcasting propaganda into homes across the country and have for at least 30 years. There is no need for "state-run television" and in fact, they're obviously against it because the "state" can change to talking about big bird again. So no. Plenty of reason to point and laugh, much less to hand wring, imo.

[BumRushDaShow]

77. I am a retired fed after 30+ years of service

I know what E.O.s are SUPPOSED to be for - directing and guiding employees, like I was, on how to implement the law (including developing regulations that must go through a Federal Register process). Meaning they are NOT for "making law".

But that is not happening at the moment until the courts smack them down as they mostly did his first term, but have been thwarted by "Daddy John Roberts" this 2nd term.

What I mean by "state-run television" is the literal co-opting of the airwaves with an identical message (not "variations of RW lunacy" ) everywhere.

[Klarkashton]

76. Another day another load of bullshit.

[IcyPeas]

79. Hes gonna make us all watch "Melania" isnt he?

[IzzaNuDay]

80. Here's hoping whatever takes him out by December

and we can undo this nonsense. I swear dementia is an awful thing!