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President Donald Trump sent a cryptic message Saturday on Truth Social, expressing concern about the future of college sports.
“College sports are in big trouble, as I said. A judge, without any knowledge or experience, ruled and, rather than fight, the sports representatives complied. I can’t do that,” Trump wrote.
Trump did not identify the judge or the situation he was referring to.
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This post comes exactly six months after Judge Claudia Wilken approved a settlement between the NCAA, its most powerful conferences and attorneys representing all Division I athletes. The agreement means the NCAA will pay nearly $2.8 billion in back damages over the next 10 years to college athletes who will compete from 2016 to 2025. The agreement also allows college programs to pay athletes direct revenue shares.
Wilken was appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1993.
NICK SABAN COMMENDS TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER SUPPRESSING PAY-TO-PLAY IN COLLEGE SPORTS
Former President Donald J. Trump, left, congratulates Princeton wrestler Pat Glory, right, after Glory won the NCAA wrestling championship in the 125 lb. class, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
During a November interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Trump claimed that college programs would soon require huge “NFL-style payrolls” to be competitive and warned that “bad things are going to happen unless they figure that out.”
In July, Trump signed an executive order setting new restrictions on payments to college athletes. The Saving College Sports Executive Order prohibits athletes from receiving payments for playing from third-party sources.
However, the order does not impose any restrictions on Zero payments to college athletes through third-party sources.
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President Donald Trump holds a basketball team autographed by a talented team during a ceremony honoring the 2019 NCAA women’s basketball champion Baylor Lady Bears in the Oval Office of the White House. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
It also requires schools to ensure they preserve resources for unpaid sports.
“The order provides that any permitted revenue sharing between universities and collegiate athletes must be implemented in a manner that protects women’s and non-revenue sports,” the order states. “The Order requires the preservation and, to the extent possible, expansion of opportunities for scholarship and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.”
Earlier this week, a House vote on the SCORE law (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements), which would regulate name, image and likeness agreements, was canceled shortly before its presentation.
The White House approved the legislation Tuesday, but three Republicans, Byron Donalds (Fla.), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Chip Roy (Texas) voted with Democrats not to introduce the legislation. Democrats largely opposed the bill, urging House members to vote “no.”
The White House added that this law “is a crucial step toward passing legislation that will preserve and strengthen this institution that is at the heart of American culture and success.” He did not respond to a request for comment regarding Wednesday’s cancellation.
