Trump SAVES Army–Navy Tradition!

President Trump delivers a decisive blow to greedy television networks threatening to bulldoze America’s most sacred military tradition with an unprecedented executive order protecting the Army-Navy game.

Story Highlights

Trump announces executive order creating exclusive 4-hour broadcast window for Army-Navy game on second Saturday in December
Order blocks College Football Playoff expansion from displacing 135-year military tradition
President attended 126th Army-Navy game where Navy defeated Army 17-16 at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium
Move represents unprecedented use of executive authority to protect American sporting tradition from commercial interests

Trump Takes Stand Against Commercial Greed

President Trump announced via Truth Social on December 14, 2025, his plan to sign a historic executive order protecting the Army-Navy football game from being displaced by expanded College Football Playoff games. The order establishes an exclusive four-hour broadcast window on the second Saturday in December, reserved solely for this cherished military rivalry. Trump declared that “under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!” This decisive action directly confronts television networks and playoff organizers who prioritize profit over patriotic tradition.

The executive order represents an unprecedented intersection of presidential authority and college athletics governance, demonstrating Trump’s commitment to preserving American traditions against commercial encroachment. Trump issued a direct notice to “ALL Television Networks, Stations, and Outlets” regarding this protection, signaling his administration’s willingness to use federal power to defend military heritage. The announcement came just one day after Trump attended the 126th Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, marking his seventh appearance at the storied rivalry.

Defending Sacred Military Heritage

The Army-Navy game represents one of America’s longest-running sporting traditions, beginning in 1890 and played annually without interruption since 1930. Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting president to attend the game in 1901, establishing a precedent for presidential recognition of this military rivalry. The game traditionally enjoys an exclusive broadcast window with no competing football games, honoring the service members represented by both military academies. This protection acknowledges the game’s role as more than entertainment—it serves as a celebration of military service and national values.

Trump characterized the Army-Navy game as “one of our Greatest American Traditions — Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor,” emphasizing that academy graduates become “America’s unstoppable Patriots, defending our Country with tremendous Strength and Heart.” This framing positions the executive order as protecting not merely a sporting event but a symbol of military dedication and sacrifice. The president’s attendance alongside Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland of West Point and Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte of the Naval Academy reinforced his commitment to military leadership and tradition.

Blocking Playoff Expansion Overreach

The immediate catalyst for Trump’s action stems from proposals to expand the NCAA College Football Playoff, with some plans including moving the Army-Navy game from its traditional second Saturday in December to accommodate additional postseason games. These expansion proposals would displace a 135-year tradition to maximize television revenue and playoff viewership. A concerning example occurred during the 2025 game when the LA Bowl kicked off just 30 minutes after Army-Navy’s start time, representing an unusual encroachment on the traditionally protected time slot.

Constitutional law professor Jill Hasday noted that executive orders “have the force of law within the executive branch,” though questions remain about enforceability regarding private broadcasting decisions. The order would force networks and the College Football Playoff committee to restructure expansion proposals around the protected Army-Navy window. CBS Sports, which holds broadcast rights through 2038, benefits from this guaranteed exclusive time slot that protects their valuable programming investment. This represents a clear victory for tradition over the relentless commercialization threatening to consume college football.