Trump Labels NIL a ‘Disaster’ Threatening College Sports and Olympic Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump sharply criticized the current landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation in college sports during a December 13 Oval Office event, calling it a “disaster” that threatens the sustainability of collegiate athletic programs and even the Olympics. Speaking alongside members of the iconic 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team, Trump expressed deep concern over the financial strain that massive player salaries are placing on universities and the broader sports ecosystem.
“I think that it’s a disaster for college sports,” Trump declared, highlighting how many colleges are forced to cut so-called “lesser” sports programs to funnel resources toward football and other revenue-generating teams. “They were really training grounds, beautiful training grounds, hard-working, wonderful young people. They were training grounds for the Olympics. And a lot of these sports that were training so well would win gold medals because of it. Those sports don’t exist because they’re putting all their money into football. And by the way, they’re putting too much money into it, into football.”
The former president’s remarks came during a gathering honoring the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team, whose members were primarily amateur collegiate athletes — a stark contrast to today’s NIL era where college athletes can earn millions from endorsements and sponsorships. Trump suggested that the current model is unsustainable, warning that many athletic programs cannot afford the escalating salaries demanded by top players.
Senator Ted Cruz has echoed similar concerns, emphasizing the potential long-term damage to college sports’ financial and competitive balance. The debate over NIL’s impact has intensified as universities grapple with balancing athlete compensation against maintaining a broad range of sports offerings.
According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the NIL policy, which allows college athletes to monetize their personal brands, was implemented to provide athletes with new opportunities while preserving the integrity of college sports. However, critics argue that the influx of money has skewed priorities, favoring high-profile sports and athletes, and forcing smaller programs into jeopardy.
Trump’s comments also touched on the Olympic movement, noting that many Olympic sports traditionally nurtured at the collegiate level are disappearing as funding dries up. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has faced challenges in sustaining training pipelines for less commercially popular sports, a problem exacerbated by shifting collegiate funding.
“We’re losing a lot of teams,” Trump said. “The colleges are cutting a lot of their — they would call them sort of the ‘lesser’ sports, and they’re losing them like at numbers nobody can believe.”
Experts from the U.S. Department of Education have noted that while NIL has empowered athletes financially, it has also introduced complexities in compliance, equity, and program funding. Many athletic departments rely heavily on revenues from football and basketball, but even these programs face pressure to meet the financial demands of NIL deals.
During the event, Trump also referenced the 2025 College Football National Champions from Ohio State University, acknowledging the prominence of football programs but cautioning that the financial model underpinning these successes may not be viable long term. The balance between athlete compensation and program sustainability remains a contentious issue.
As the conversation around NIL continues to evolve, stakeholders from universities, athletic associations, and government agencies are seeking solutions to preserve the diversity and accessibility of college sports. The U.S. Congress has held hearings to examine the impact of NIL and explore potential regulatory frameworks.
Trump’s blunt assessment adds to the growing chorus of voices calling for reform, underscoring the urgent need to address how college athletics can thrive without compromising the opportunities for student-athletes across all sports.
Leave a Reply