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President Donald Trump made good on his promise to protect the tradition of the annual Army-Navy football game by signing the “Preserving America’s Game” executive order during the Midshipmen’s visit to the White House on Friday.
Navy defeated Army in a thrilling 17-16 victory to win the Commander in Chief’s Trophy in December during a historic season in which the program finished 11-2, marking the team’s first back-to-back 10-win seasons in program history.
President Donald Trump holds up a helmet as he speaks during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Navy Midshipmen football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, District of Columbia, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The champions were honored with a visit to the White House, where Trump signed the executive order months after signaling his intentions to fight the expansion of the College Football Playoff.
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“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 traditionally reserved for Army-Navy,” the president said during his speech Friday.
“I’m going to sign an executive order to ensure that the second Saturday in December is preserved exclusively. Nobody plays football — not Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, not LSU vs. Alabama — nobody gets to play football for four hours during that very special time of year in December. It’s preserved forever for the Army and Navy game.”
Trump joked that the consequences of signing the executive order could result in a lawsuit.
President Donald Trump holds a signed order during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with the Navy Midshipmen football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, District of Columbia, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“Obviously we’re probably going to get sued at some point. We’re going to get sued, but we win those cases and we’re winning this one.”
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“It’s just an honor to do because it’s such an important tradition in our country,” the president continued. “It’s beyond football, actually. It’s a tradition in our country.”
The executive order states that “no college football game, specifically the college football CFP or other postseason games, shall be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army-Navy Game.”
Navy head coach Brian Newberry echoed the president’s remarks after the order was signed.
“Thank you for signing that executive order and protecting the sanctity of the Army-Navy. It’s a game with a soul and it deserves to be protected. Thank you very much.”
President Donald Trump signs an executive order during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with the Navy Midshipmen football team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, District of Columbia, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Trump first signaled his intentions to sign the executive order in a Truth Social post in January, saying at the time, “This incredible tradition is now at risk of being pushed aside by more College Playoff Games and Big TV Money. DON’T LEARN!”
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The president has taken a special interest in college football in his second term. Earlier this month, he held a round table discussion with notable officials, including NCAA President Charlie Baker, former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, New York Yankees president Randy Levine and each of the Power Four commissioners, among others.
The group met to explore solutions to key challenges, including NCAA authority, name, image and likeness (NIL), collective bargaining and governance issues.
