SANTA CLARA, California, Feb 8 - U.S. President Donald Trump did not make the trip to the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, but he took time hours before kickoff to issue a presidential message extending his best wishes to both teams.
In the message, Trump described the Super Bowl as more than a championship contest, calling it "a uniquely American tradition that reflects the passion and perseverance of the United States." He praised the commitment behind the event, saying, "On the field, players and coaches bring years of hard work, preparation, and commitment to football's biggest night." He added, "Across the country, millions of fans come together to cheer on their teams and share in a moment of history. Today, every American is a football fan."
Trump noted he would not be in Santa Clara and had previously told the New York Post that he would not attend because it was "just too far away." The president is recorded as having been the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl when he went to the 2025 game in New Orleans.
The president also made clear his dissatisfaction with aspects of the entertainment lineup, citing displeasure that the halftime show would feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and that punk rock band Green Day would perform ahead of the game.
Closing his formal message, Trump offered a customary sports wish: "May tonight's game reflect the best of football and the enduring triumph of the American spirit - and may the best team win!"
Separately, in a pre-recorded interview aired on NBC on Sunday, Trump commented on the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting results for the Class of 2026, where six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick was not elected in his first year of eligibility.
The article notes the prevailing view among observers that Belichick did not receive first-ballot support because of controversies identified during his time with the New England Patriots, commonly referred to as "Spygate" and "Deflategate."
Reacting to Belichick's omission, Trump said, "I thought it was terrible. I mean, he's won so much, won so many Super Bowls. Great coach. Became a little bit controversial, I guess, after that, this little period after that. During it, he was just a great coach. I thought it was very inappropriate."
The president's remarks combined a celebration of the Super Bowl as a national event with pointed commentary on both entertainment choices and Hall of Fame voting decisions, delivered without his physical presence at the game in Santa Clara.
Readers should note that limited background is provided on the selection process for the Hall of Fame beyond the reference to the cited controversies, and the report confines itself to the remarks and positions attributed to the president in his message and the televised interview.
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