Did Donald J Trump play college football? Ex-POTUS at Alabama for SEC blockbuster against Georgia

Donald Trump, the 2024 US Presidential candidate, attended Alabama’s Week 5 SEC showdown against Georgia in Tuscaloosa. The former POTUS arrived to roaring cheers from the student section as he made his way through the Bryant-Denny Stadium.

But what is Trump’s relationship with college football? Did he play for any program during his college days? Let’s find out.

Did Donald J Trump play football?

Although Trump didn’t play college football, he has a long-standing relationship with the sport. At the New York Military Academy, Trump was a three-sport athlete and played a year of football for them.

His classmates praised his athleticism, with one even suggesting he could’ve gone pro in baseball as a pitcher.

“He could play football, soccer—he was physically and mentally gifted,” former classmate Ted Levine recalled in an interview with Business Insider.

Trump, known for his unique approach to public appearances, even threw popcorn boxes to fans behind barricades.

His connection to the sport remains strong, both as a fan and a figure in the public eye.

Donald Trump's relationship with football

Donald Trump's connection with football at the collegiate and professional levels has been a rollercoaster ride. Since the 1980s, Trump has clashed with the NFL, attempting multiple times to become a team owner but never succeeding.

His entry into football was as the owner of the New Jersey Generals in the now-defunct USFL. Trump led the league in a lawsuit against the NFL, as the former President hoped for a merger. While the lawsuit was won, Trump’s goal was out of bounds, and the turn of events led to the USFL’s collapse.

However, Donald Trump has seen far more favorable times in college football. The billionaire businessman and politician has attended high-profile games, especially in the South, a region key to his political base.

Hardcore football fans loved Trump's presence at games like the 2019 LSU vs. Alabama showdown and the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Unlike his NFL battles, Trump’s college football appearances have largely been free of controversy.