Olivia Asher is a reporter at the New Herald Tribune covering breaking news for the Digital Trends Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Plain Dealer.
February 10 , 2025
New Orleans - Donald Trump has alleged that the recent Super Bowl LIX was fixed, calling for the immediate dismissal of all NFL referees. Trump, who attended the game in New Orleans, voiced his displeasure on his Truth Social platform shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagle.
"The game was rigged! Everyone knows it. The referees were terrible, the worst I've ever seen. They should all be fired immediately!" Trump exclaimed in his post.
Trump's criticism comes despite earlier remarks where he praised both the Chiefs and the Eagles, as well as the quarterbacks and coaching staff. He did, however, express his disapproval of the NFL's new kickoff rule, suggesting it made the game more dangeroua.
This isn't the first time Trump has criticized the NFL. In 2017, he stated that NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. He also lamented what he perceived as a decline in violence in the sport, blaming referees for "ruining the game" by penalizing aggressive tackles.
The NFL has yet to respond to Trump's allegations. However, his comments have already sparked outrage among many fans and sports analysts, who are calling his claims baseless and disrespectful to the players and the sport. Some view his presence at the Super Bowl as an affront to NFL players, especially given his past remarks on protests and player safety.
This latest controversy adds another chapter to Trump's complicated legacy with the NFL. While he once owned a team in a competing league and has a history with the sport, his relationship with the NFL has been marked by criticism and controversy.
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