Trump Signs Order to Preserve 2nd Saturday in December for Army-Navy Football

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20 blocking college football playoff organizers from scheduling games during the four hours allotted for the Army–Navy game played on the second Saturday in December.

The order cites the expansion of college football playoffs as the cause for the regulation because the schedule “threatens to encroach upon … a date traditionally reserved exclusively for ‘America’s Game.’”

“The annual Army-Navy game is truly one of the most special occasions in all of sports, but in recent years, the college football playoff expansion has encroached on this sacred four-hour time slot traditionally reserved for Army–Navy,” Trump said.

“Now, if you don’t want to watch football, you don’t have to. But if you want to watch football, you’re only watching one game.”

He said legal challenges are anticipated.

“Of course, we’ll probably get sued at some point,” Trump said. “We always get sued, but we win those suits, and we’ll win this one.”

He signed the order during a ceremony presenting the Navy Midshipmen, for the second straight year, with the 170-pound silver Commander in Chief’s Trophy—first awarded by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to the Army Black Knights.

“These players achieved one of the most impressive seasons in Navy football history, and any football history, frankly,” Trump said.

Navy set a school record with 21 wins and five losses over the past two seasons, the first time the team won 10 games in back-to-back years.

Head coach Brian Newberry thanked Trump for the executive order and the opportunity to speak for the team at the White House.

“There’s no higher honor than standing here representing the entire brigade of midshipmen—the brotherhood and all the men and women who serve and have served in our Navy and Marine Corps,” he said.

“These young men understand that wearing the Navy uniform comes with a responsibility greater than football. Each day they strive to live up to values of honor, courage, and commitment and the standards of those who came before them—leaders of character who have gone on to serve our country with distinction.”

Naval Academy athletic director Michael Kelly and Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte joined the team for the ceremony.

Trump said policy changes his administration enacted in his first term—to adjust military academy deferments to permit athletes to delay active and reserve duty requirements until their professional careers are finished—allowed individuals to reach their potential and boosted enrollment.

“They are great patriots, but that would be a lot to ask, and I think it’s helped your teams really compete at the highest, highest level,” he said.

The president updated the crowd with the latest information from Operation Epic Fury.

“We’re doing extremely well in Iran,” Trump said. “They have no Navy anymore … and we have the greatest Navy anywhere in the world, and it’s not even close.”

The president said joint Israeli and U.S. operations have eliminated Iran’s Navy, Air Force, radar, and anti-aircraft defense systems.

“Their leaders are all gone. The next set of leaders are all gone, and the next set of leaders are mostly gone, and now nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore,” he said.

“Even now, over the past few weeks, the world has seen the true strength and might of our sailors and aviators as they fought in one of the most complex and successful military operations of all time against the Iranian regime.”