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President Donald Trump appeared on Pat McAfee’s daily ESPN show Tuesday, and of course, not everyone was happy.
Days after McAfee himself announced that Trump would attend the Washington Commanders-Detroit Lions game, the president convened his show, broadcast live from Parris Island in honor of Veterans Day.
Trump talked about those who fought for our country, the government shutdown, college football and the NFL kickoff (which he hates) in an appearance that lasted about 20 minutes.
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Pat McAfee defended his decision to have President Donald Trump on his show Tuesday afternoon. (Gilbert Flores, Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The show was streamed live on YouTube, with many comments showing vitriol toward the president as well as McAfee for hosting him. But after Trump hung up, McAfee defended his decision.
“I would like to say though, for the immediate people who are furious about this, that this is the president of the United States. It’s Veterans Day. He’s the commander in chief. Obviously, if we get a chance to talk to him, we will. And he’s hilarious.”
Pat McAfee during the ESPYs at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California on July 16, 2025. (Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images)
AMON-RA ST BROWN OF LIONS DOS TRUMP’S SIGNATURE DANCE TO CELEBRATE TOUCHDOWN AGAINST COMMANDERS
McAfee also said that he and the show reached out to former President Barack Obama after Trump became an option to be interviewed, but Obama was unable to join the show due to scheduling conflicts.
This appearance on the show marks the latest in a presidency that has been filled with sports. Trump attended the Lions’ victory Sunday, just outside the nation’s capital. It was his first sporting event since playing in the Ryder Cup in September. That month, he also attended the US Open men’s final and a New York Yankees game, which took place 24 years to the day after the September 11 attacks.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in the locker room before a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers. The match took place in New York, New York on September 11, 2025. (Doug Mills//The New York Times via AP, Pool)
The Commanders-Lions game was his first NFL game of the season. He also attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, won by the Philadelphia Eagles, and has appeared at numerous UFC events. He also attended the FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
