Rusty Weiss
Trump Signs Army-Navy Game Executive Order
President Trump just dropped the hammer on the college football suits who thought they could sneak their expanded playoff nonsense into the sacred second Saturday in December slot.
That slot now belongs to the Army–Navy game.
The President made it official by signing the “Preserving America’s Game” executive order during a White House visit from the Navy Midshipmen—who, by the way, just snagged the Commander-in-Chief Trophy.
No CFP games, no postseason whatever, get to air anywhere near the Army-Navy classic.
“For over a century, the Army-Navy Game, known as ‘America’s Game,’ has stood as a symbol of excellence and the American spirit,” the order reads. “Now, the recent and potentially ongoing expansion of the College Football Playoffs (CFP) and other postseason college football games threatens to encroach upon the second Saturday in December — a date traditionally reserved exclusively for ‘America’s Game.’
“Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War,” it continues. “Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that no college football game, specifically college football’s CFP or other postseason games, be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army‑Navy Game.”
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump signs an Executive Order preserving the traditional timeslot on the second Saturday of December exclusively for the Army Navy Game.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 20, 2026
pic.twitter.com/b4cOVIIxYp
Trump basically told the suits, ‘Hands off our troops’ big day.’ And if they don’t comply, the FCC might start asking questions about their licenses.
Classic Trump: protect the real heroes while reminding everyone that tradition beats expansion bucks every time.
“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 during a speech Friday at the White House.
“Nobody’s playing football – not Ohio State against Notre Dame, not LSU against Alabama – nobody’s going to play football for four hours during that very special time of the year in December. It’s preserved forever for the Army-Navy game.”
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President Trump vowed a few months ago to give the annual Army-Navy football game an exclusive four-hour broadcast window on the second Saturday in December.
“The Army-Navy Game is one of our Greatest American Traditions — Unmatched Patriotism, Courage, and Honor! This incredible Tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more College Playoff Games and Big TV Money,” he wrote on social media. “NOT ANYMORE!”
Bam. Nailed it.
A month earlier, Trump was on hand in Baltimore for the 126th edition of the rivalry. He flipped the ceremonial coin toss before Navy edged out Army 17-16 in a nail-biter. He was clearly moved by the tradition of it all.
The Army-Navy matchup dates back to 1890 and has long stood apart as a celebration of service academy athletes who will go on to lead in the military.
It’s not your typical high-stakes powerhouse contest—the teams usually aren’t national title contenders—but the pageantry, the mutual respect, and the pre-game traditions (like the march-ons by cadets and midshipmen) make it feel bigger than football.