Graham: Trump hit for ‘sportswashing’ at NFL game
In a striking intersection of sports and politics, The Washington Post’s sports columnist Barry Svrluga recently critiqued former President Donald Trump’s appearance at a Washington Commanders game, labeling it as an instance of “sportswashing.” Following the Commanders’ dismal performance against the Detroit Lions, Svrluga expressed his disdain for Trump’s presence in the Fox broadcast booth, suggesting that it served as a distraction from pressing national issues, particularly the ongoing government shutdown that was affecting many in Washington, D.C. He argued that the optics of Trump enjoying the game alongside Commanders owner Josh Harris were particularly galling, given the struggles faced by local residents during the shutdown, which he attributed to a stalemate involving Democrats. This commentary reflects a broader narrative among some media outlets that view Trump’s involvement in sports as an attempt to divert attention from his political controversies.
Svrluga’s critique also touched on the broader cultural context surrounding Trump and the NFL, especially in light of the protests led by players like Colin Kaepernick against social injustices, including police brutality. He lamented that many had seemingly forgotten Trump’s contentious relationship with the league during that period, suggesting that his presence at sporting events now represents a failure to acknowledge the ongoing issues of racial inequality and violence in America. In contrast, Michael Rosenberg from Sports Illustrated echoed this sentiment, positing that while Trump may still be a familiar face at NFL games, the league itself has distanced itself from him, highlighting a shift in how the NFL navigates its relationship with the former president. Rosenberg noted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s commitment to diversity and inclusion stands in stark contrast to the political controversies surrounding Trump.
Critics of Svrluga’s perspective argue that such editorializing risks politicizing sports in a way that could alienate a significant portion of the fanbase who may not share the same views. They contend that had a Democrat been in attendance at these events, the narrative would likely be framed more favorably, showcasing a connection with the common people rather than being dismissed as mere “sportswashing.” This ongoing dialogue illustrates the deepening intersection of sports and politics in America, where athletes, owners, and fans alike are increasingly influenced by the broader cultural and political landscape. As the conversation continues, it raises important questions about the role of sports figures in societal issues and how their actions are interpreted through the lens of political affiliation.
Even the sports pages can be a platform for anti-Trump editorializing. After the Washington Commanders were drubbed by the Detroit Lions, the front page of The Washington Post sports section carried a piece by columnist Barry Svrluga trashing Trump’s appearance at the game, and in the Fox broadcast booth. He called it “sportswashing.”
“What played out Sunday was a microcosm of Trump’s presidency and his relationship with American sport. It’s sportswashing, using these games to distract from the important matters of our times,” he wrote. There was “something rich about Trump sitting and smiling in the box of Commanders owner Josh Harris and his partners … while the District and so many of its citizens struggled with the shutdown.”
This Democrat rag can’t acknowledge that the shutdown was created and dragged out by recalcitrant Democrats. They aren’t factored into the plight of those struggling D.C. denizens. Who was holding out, keeping them from getting their food stamps and paychecks?
Svrluga was angry that people had forgotten how Trump was on the wrong side of the culture war in 2020 when NFL players knelt in protest during the National Anthem against “social injustices” like police brutality. Liberals still can’t imagine that many NFL fans didn’t appreciate what felt like a double-middle-finger salute to the flag, or that many didn’t like quarterback Colin Kaepernick wearing pig socks to mock the cops.
Riots and murders after George Floyd’s death in police custody were blended into a “reckoning” by Svrluga: “Five years after the country endured what was framed in the moment as a racial reckoning — in which police practices were questioned, scrutinized and in some cases overhauled — the city that the Commanders represent is being monitored by National Guard soldiers, the American military overseeing American citizens at Trump’s behest.”
Somehow, this columnist can’t abide the president noticing that the nation’s capital has long had a violent-crime problem.
He wasn’t alone. Michael Rosenberg at Sports Illustrated proclaimed, “Trump can’t quit the NFL, but the NFL has quit him.” Really? “Yes, most owners will still support him, as most billionaires do. But the NFL itself is providing a blueprint for how to tussle with the President: Don’t.”
Rosenberg gushed over how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not dismiss his chief diversity officer Jonathan Beane.
Trump has visited a pile of recent sporting events, including the Yankees game on Sept. 11, the U.S. Open men’s final, and the Ryder Cup golf competition.
Surely, this round might please sports fans, showing Trump enjoys what they enjoy. If a Democrat attended all these things, Svrluga and Rosenberg would probably adore it as deftly displaying a common touch. It wouldn’t be “sportswashing” bad news. Everything magically ends up as good news in the Preferred Party.
Tim Graham is director of media analysis at the Media Research Center and executive editor of the blog NewsBusters.org.
