Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to block out an exclusive window for the Army-Navy Game, an effort to preserve its date and its lack of competition from other games.
His post on Saturday comes amid proposal to expand the College Football Playoffs, a potential conflict to the Army-Navy Game.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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. NOT ANYMORE!
“Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy! I will soon sign a Historic Executive Order securing an EXCLUSIVE 4 hour Broadcast window, so this National Event stands above Commercial Postseason Games. No other Game or Team can violate this Time Slot!!!”
It is unclear whether the president — or the FCC— has the authority to essentially mandate a programming decision by the other broadcast networks. Stations enjoy a lesser degree of First Amendment protection than other forms of media, but the Supreme Court has ruled that restrictions have to be “narrowly tailored to further a substantial governmental interest.” That has given the agency the legal ability to regulate such things as indecency and obscenity, as well as commercials in children’s programming. Meanwhile, sports rights have been migrating to streaming platforms, which are outside the FCC’s oversight.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reposted Trump’s message on X, but did not comment.
CBS Sports has broadcast the game since 1996 and holds the rights through 2038. A spokesperson for Paramount, parent company of CBS, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Trump’s comments — made amid ongoing ICE raids in Minneapolis, and the president’s announcement of tariffs on European countries that don’t agree to the U.S. taking control of Greenland — may merely be a way of pressuring college football officials into backing off of any plan to schedule games in the traditional Army-Navy timeslot.
In 2024, a group of lawmakers in both parties urged college officials to preserve the second Saturday for the Army-Navy games, amid concerns over the increased schedule of playoffs and bowl games in the final month of the year.
