When it comes to the question of which team does Trump support, the answer isn't as simple as a guy wearing a lucky jersey on a Sunday afternoon. Honestly, if you’re looking for a die-hard, lifelong fan who sticks with a losing team through thin and thinner, you’re looking at the wrong guy. Donald Trump’s relationship with sports is a weird, fascinating mix of New York nostalgia, high-stakes business deals, and a very public obsession with "winners."
He’s a man who has tried to buy the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys, and even the New York Mets. He’s owned a team in a defunct league. He’s hosted more champions than perhaps any other person on the planet. But if you ask him point-blank who he's rooting for, the answer usually depends on who’s currently holding the trophy.
The New York Roots: Yankees and the "Boss"
Growing up in Queens, Trump was always going to be a baseball fan. It’s basically in the DNA of every New Yorker. For years, his primary loyalty was to the New York Yankees. This wasn't just about the pinstripes; it was about the proximity to power. Trump was famously close with the late George Steinbrenner, the legendary and often controversial owner of the Yanks.
They were two of a kind. Both were brash, both were obsessed with winning at all costs, and both loved the spotlight. Trump has frequently called Steinbrenner his "best friend," and during the Yankees' dominant runs in the late 70s and 90s, he was a fixture at the stadium.
However, even that loyalty has shifted. He’s recently been more of a "spectacle" fan. He showed up at a Yankees-Tigers game in September 2025 to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, but he rarely claims a specific "home" team these days. He’s a New Yorker at heart, sure, but he’s also a Florida resident now. It's complicated.
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Which Team Does Trump Support in the NFL?
The NFL is where things get really spicy. Trump has a long, let’s call it "strained," history with the league. Back in the 80s, he bought the New Jersey Generals in the upstart USFL. He didn't just want to run a team; he wanted to force a merger with the NFL. He led a massive antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, won a measly $3 (yes, three dollars), and the USFL folded shortly after.
Since then, his "support" has been more about the owners than the logos.
- New England Patriots: He has a deep, well-documented friendship with owner Robert Kraft. During the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, Trump was a vocal supporter of the Pats. It was a "winner" thing.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Lately, he’s been all over the Patrick Mahomes hype train. Why? Because they win. He’s praised Mahomes repeatedly during the Chiefs' recent three-peat.
- New York Jets: His friend Woody Johnson owns the team. Trump even appointed Johnson as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom during his first term. But does he root for them on the field? Probably not—they haven't won enough lately for his taste.
The "Winner" Factor: Florida Panthers and the Stanley Cup
If you want to know which team does Trump support right now, in 2026, look no further than the Florida Panthers. On January 15, 2026, Trump hosted the Panthers at the White House for the second year in a row. They’ve won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and that is exactly the kind of "aura" Trump gravitates toward.
During the ceremony, star player Matthew Tkachuk and captain Aleksander Barkov handed him a "Trump 47" jersey and a gold hockey stick. Trump was in his element. He called their playoff run the "most dominant in NHL history." This is the core of his fandom: he supports the champions. He supports the guys who don't lose. If the Panthers start a losing streak, don't expect him to be wearing their gear next season.
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Combat Sports and the UFC Connection
You can't talk about Trump’s sports interests without mentioning the UFC. His relationship with Dana White is probably the most consistent "team" loyalty he has. Back when the UFC was banned from most venues and struggling to survive, Trump hosted their events at his Atlantic City casinos.
Dana White has never forgotten that. He’s a regular at the White House, and Trump is a regular at cageside. He doesn't necessarily root for a specific fighter (though he’s a fan of Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal), but he supports the organization as a whole. It’s a "toughness" brand that aligns perfectly with his political persona.
College Football: The Cultural Stronghold
In the world of college sports, Trump doesn't really have an "alma mater" loyalty in the traditional sense, despite attending Penn. Instead, he supports the tradition of the game. He’s a regular at the Army-Navy Game—having attended at least six times. In late 2025, he even vowed to "protect" the game amidst the chaos of the expanding College Football Playoff.
He also tends to show up at big SEC games. Whether it's Alabama or LSU, he goes where the crowd is loudest and the culture is most aligned with his base. It’s less about who’s under center and more about the "theatre" of the American South.
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Real Talk: Does He Actually Watch the Games?
There’s a bit of a running joke among sports journalists that Trump is a "15-minute fan." He famously left the Super Bowl before it ended and bailed on the Daytona 500 after just 11 laps. He likes the anthem, he likes the coin toss, and he likes the trophy presentation. The four hours of grit in between? Maybe not as much.
He’s a busy guy, obviously. But it also highlights that his fandom is largely about the branding of success. He wants to be associated with the gold trophy, not the fourth-quarter grind.
Actionable Insights for the Casual Observer
If you’re trying to keep track of where the President's loyalties lie, keep these three rules in mind:
- Follow the Owners: If a team owner is a donor or a personal friend (like the Johnsons, the Krafts, or the Violas), that's the team he’s going to speak fondly of.
- Follow the Rings: He will almost always side with the reigning champion. Victory is his favorite color.
- The New York/Florida Split: While he's a "New Yorker at heart," his current geographical and political ties are firmly in Florida. Expect more love for the Panthers and the Dolphins than the Giants or the Rangers.
The bottom line is that Donald Trump doesn't support a team the way you or I might. He doesn't have a "lucky" pair of socks. He doesn't cry when a team loses. He views sports as a stage for American greatness and, more importantly, a reflection of his own brand of winning. To understand which team does Trump support, just look at who is currently at the top of the standings.
Check the current standings in the NHL and NFL. If a team is on a record-breaking win streak, keep an eye on the White House invitation list—that’s your answer. You can also monitor the official White House social media channels for upcoming championship visits, as these ceremonies are where his true "fandom" is most visible.