President Donald Trump is set to be a high-profile spectator at Monday night's college football championship final in Miami, where the Miami Hurricanes will face off against the Indiana Hoosiers.
A Sporting Pillar of the Presidency
Sport has formed a central pillar of President Trump's second term, and his attendance at the Hard Rock Stadium continues this trend. He will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Miami native. According to a report by Axios, Rubio is friends with the Hurricanes' head coach, Mario Cristobal.
Family Ties and Formidable Opponents
There is speculation that President Trump may be supporting the Hurricanes, as his granddaughter, Kai, is on a golf scholarship in Miami. However, the Indiana Hoosiers enter the game as strong favourites to win. Their quarterback is Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, the player widely tipped to be the number one pick in the upcoming NFL draft at the end of April. The team holding that coveted first draft pick is the Las Vegas Raiders.
A History of Historic Sporting Attendance
This is not President Trump's first foray into major sporting events as commander-in-chief. In February, he made history by becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. On that occasion, he travelled to New Orleans to watch the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, who were on the verge of achieving a historic three-peat.
Furthermore, he has previous experience with college football's premier event. Back in 2018, President Trump watched the first half of the championship game between Alabama and Georgia at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
His presence at Monday's championship final in Miami underscores the continued intersection of sport, politics, and spectacle during his administration.
