Pat McAfee has warned that Donald Trump’s attendance at the College Football Playoff National Championship could cause major delays to the game.
On Monday night, US president Trump will watch on at the Hard Rock Stadium as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Miami Hurricanes in college football’s showpiece event.
However, ahead of the game, ESPN host McAfee has warned that his broadcast team may have to ‘fill tonight’ amid concerns there will be delays to the game.
Back in summer, Trump attended a number of sporting events and, due to his attendance, some of their start times were pushed back, such as the US Open.
On Monday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show, the ESPN host said: ‘Might have to fill tonight. Just something to think about.
‘You see how long it took to get in here? U.S. Open, right, was the last time the president was at an event with a lot of people? That was delayed, what, an hour?’
‘You think they’ll delay the start of the game?’ asked co-host A.J. Hawk.
‘I don’t know, man,’ replied McAfee.
Studio guest Nick Saban then chimed in and alluded to the fact that, when Trump attended the 2018 national championship game, ‘it was a problem.’
‘There’s a chance that happens tonight,’ responded McAfee.
Sport has been a central pillar of Trump’s second term as president and he will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Miami native who is friends with Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, for the game, Axios reported.
Trump might be supporting the Hurricanes too as his teenage granddaughter, Kai, is on a golf scholarship in Miami.
But the Hoosiers are strong favorites to win and have Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, the man widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft at the end of April, which is held by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Trump became the first sitting president in history to attend a Super Bowl in February, when he headed to New Orleans to watch the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs, who were on the verge of a three-peat.
But he has attended college football’s showpiece game before. In 2018, he watched the first half between Alabama and Georgia in Atlanta.
More to follow…
