President Trump Is Demanding The NFL Change 'Atrocious' Rule

President Trump is demanding the NFL change an "atrocious" rule moving forward.

The President of the United States, 79, spent his Sunday watching some football. There was a lot of fun action on Sunday, with the Cowboys beating the Giants in a thriller, the Eagles topping the Chiefs in a Super Bowl rematch and the Falcons besting the Vikings on Sunday Night Football. The NFL's new kickoff rule was very much on display, too, with dozens of big returns across the league.

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The NFL's new Dynamic Kickoff Rule made an adjustment in 2025, moving the touchback from the 30 to the 35-yard line, in an attempt to get more kickoff returns. So far, it's worked. In Week 1, teams returned 118 of 156 kickoffs for a 75.6% return rate, which was a 50 percent increase over 2024.

But President Trump does not like it.

President Trump, who previously called out the NFL during his first presidential term for players kneeling during the national anthem, is now calling out the league for its new kickoff rule.

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The President of the United States believes it looks bad.

President Trump doesn't hold back on the new kickoff rule

President Trump is demanding that the league change its new kickoff rule. He believes it's an "atrocious" rule.

"The NFL has to get rid of that ridiculous looking new Kickoff Rule. How can they make such a big and sweeping change so easily and quickly. It’s at least as dangerous as the “normal” kickoff, and looks like hell. The ball is moving, and the players are not, the exact opposite of what football is all about. 'Sissy' football is bad for America, and bad for the NFL! Who comes up with these ridiculous ideas? It’s like wanting to “roll back” the golf ball so it doesn’t go (nearly!) as far. Fortunately, college football will remain the same, hopefully forever!!" he wrote.

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The new kickoff rule isn't going away

The NFL has been wanting to make kickoff returns safer and more proficient in recent years. In 2023, a record-low 21.8 percent of kickoffs were returned. The league went to the "Dynamic Kickoff" model, placing the kickoff return and kickoff players much closer together, and it worked.

The league saw 32.8 percent of kickoffs returned in 2024 and, after changing the touchback spot for 2025, it's even higher this year.

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President Trump can complain all he wants, but the rule is not going away.

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