When considering what changes would occur following the appointment of a new president, sports is not typically the first topic to come to mind, let alone at all. However, Trump’s second term is projected to reshape American and global sports. From the LA Olympics and FIFA World Cup, to the NCAA College Athletics Lawsuits, to transgender participation in sports, the recent change in office has stirred much discussion about the future of Athletics.
President Trump’s four-year term coincides with two major sporting events that are set to occur in the United States: the 2028 LA Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup games will be hosted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. This cross-border hosting is projected to cause tension and demonstrations, especially given the hostile situation at the US-Mexico border and the economic tension with Canada and Mexico. With competitors from across the globe, both events are meant to welcome the world and demonstrate global friendship. However, Trump’s rhetoric and policies, such as changing the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, set a precedent that isolates America as a sovereign power. This kind of behavior may spark riots and boycotts, something that would most definitely hurt business and commercial success.
Moreover, Trump’s disregard for human rights standards could cause conflict with the FIFA organization, which is committed to upholding human rights. However, in practice, the FIFA Organization cares most about money, something they could lose by relocating the event, as the US was the highest bidder. For example, FIFA President Gianni Infantino called Trump “part of the FIFA team” and even called him his “great friend.” Given that all preparations go according to plan, it is probable that Trump will use the 2026 World Cup to promote his worldview.
Similarly, the Olympic Games are often used by nations to display what they want other countries to see in their society. While the Olympics will be featured in the last year of Trump’s tenure in the Oval Office, it is still likely that the Trump Administration will have a significant impact on the image the LA Olympics presents to the world. Not only will this spark discussion from international players and fans, but because LA is a Democratic-leaning city, the citizens of the host city may even disagree with the way the Games portray LA and America.
Like FIFA, the Olympic Committee is in no way praising Trump, as the inclusive message of the Olympics clashes with aspects of Trump’s character. This perspective was controversial but best shown when he told LeBron James to “shut up and dribble” during the take-a-knee movement. All in all, these events may experience decreased brand funding and increased political tension because of the varying ideals behind these global competitions.
Trump also changed sports-related directives made by the Biden administration. On Biden’s First Day in Office, he signed an executive order allowing student-athletes to compete under their gender identity. More than a year later, on the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a revolutionary law that prohibited discrimination in any federally funded education program based on sex, the Department of Education defined women as anyone who identifies as a woman. This allowed anyone identified as a woman to be welcome in locker rooms, bathrooms, sports, and other single-gender spaces. However, Trump’s executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” defined women as adhering to “biological truths” and closed the door for transgender women in women’s sports. Trump claims that this order upholds the promise of Title IX: “We will not allow men to beat up, injure and cheat our women and our girls. From now on, women’s sports will be only for women.”
This executive order required immediate action, threatening to cut federal funding for schools that deny single-sex sports and locker rooms. Recently, the American Civil Liberties Unit filed a motion defending transgender women’s rights, and multiple professional female athletes have supported trans athletes. This backlash and the numerous changes over the past five years show that the future of NCAA Sports may not be set in stone.
Beginning in 2019, and still ongoing, the NCAA has brought many cases to Congress regarding an athlete’s status as a classified employee. The end goal of these pleas is to deny compensation for college athletes, saving colleges millions of dollars. With the recent Republican Sweep in the 2024 Election, the NCAA has become more confident than ever in securing antitrust protections against collegiate athletes. Multiple politicians have come out and admitted that the NCAA is one of the biggest winners from this election, as a Republican Controlled Congress is more likely to adhere to the NCAA’s requests regarding athlete compensation. In fact, Republican Senator Ted Cruz has already stated that he supports the NCAA. Moreover, a democratic aide has gone out and said, “It’s a bad day to be a college athlete,” and a “great day to be a college president or conference commissioner.”
Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is fighting against NIL payments for women’s sports regarding Title IX, the same law that he used to “support” women’s sports by banning transgender athletes. Trump has recently suggested, under a recent directive by the Department of Education, that female athletes are not guaranteed NIL payments equivalent to male athletes. Instead of distributing 20.5 million dollars evenly between men’s and women’s sports teams, colleges can funnel NIL as they see fit. Specifically, the DOE stated that Title IX does not apply to NIL, making equal payments to men and women athletes not required by law.
Regardless of political affiliation, Trump’s final four years in office will make sports politics and sports a significant aspect of American Culture. When asked to comment on this matter, Spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance Transition Taylor Rodger, explained, “As President Trump has said, sports are a microcosm of life — he appreciates the dedication, training, and perseverance an athlete endures while working with a team to win big.”
