Trump has long been a fan of wrestling and has used the sport to drive what became a central promise of his campaign: banning transgender women from competing in female sports. Trump also routinely attends UFC fights and, a month out from Election Day, brought on stage the Penn State national champion wrestling team during a rally at the... See more

For Trump, then, sports are not just entertainment or policy – they are political infrastructure. They allow him to amplify grievances, mobilise identity, and project a vision of America rooted in toughness, discipline, and global visibility on his terms.

This could also be part of a ploy to gain more control over American institutions, experts say. As president, Trump has “asserted his dominance over politics, higher education and corporations,” and sports is “another venue he is trying to influence,” said The Boston Globe. While “most presidents have tried to use sports to unite a divided nation,... See more