‘Second Saturday Belongs To Army–Navy’: Trump To Issue Order Protecting Traditional Broadcast Slot

United States President Donald Trump has said he will issue an executive order to protect the traditional second Saturday broadcast slot of the Army–Navy football game, warning that the event is at risk of being overshadowed by college playoff games and commercial interests.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the Army–Navy Game as “one of our greatest American traditions,” highlighting its symbolism of patriotism, courage and honour. He said the second Saturday of December should be reserved exclusively for the annual matchup between the US Military Academy and the US Naval Academy.

“Under my Administration, the second Saturday in December belongs to Army-Navy, and ONLY Army-Navy!” he wrote, promising an exclusive four-hour broadcast window

no other postseason game can invade.

The annual clash also decides the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series involving the Air Force, setting West Point cadets against Annapolis midshipmen in a contest for service academy supremacy. Navy leads the historic rivalry 64–55–7 through 2025, with the game having been staged at iconic venues ranging from Philadelphia to MetLife Stadium.

US presidents regularly attend the fixture, CBS holds broadcast rights through 2038, and the game made history with the debut of instant replay in 1963. Trump’s proposed move comes amid the expansion of playoff games following conference championships, aimed at preserving the Army–Navy Game’s status as a standalone regular-season finale known for its distinct tradition and pageantry.

Trump portrayed the contest as a symbol of America’s “unstoppable patriots,” united beyond the field of play, where on-field rivals become comrades on the battlefield in defence of freedom.

He said the proposed executive action would serve as a firm notice to television networks to safeguard the game’s exclusive time slot. CBS has secured an extended broadcast rights deal that also covers feeds in the UK and Australia. The Army–Navy Game has consistently drawn US presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to the present day, and features military academies that commission officers who will go on to lead future conflicts.

Second Saturday timing followed 2009 conference championship shifts. Neutral sites rotate from East Coast hubs to Chicago historically. MetLife hosted recent matchups drawing record crowds.

The expansion of the playoffs has increasingly squeezed long-standing traditions like the Army–Navy Game, as big-money interests prioritise semifinals over service academy pageantry. Trump’s proposed order seeks to put heritage ahead of commercial pressures.

Commander-in-Chief Trophy hangs on Army sweeping Navy and Air Force. Uninterrupted since 1930, series embodies interservice pride. Cadets and mids train as future generals and admirals.