President Trump Expresses Concerns About Football, Calls It "Dangerous Sport"

In a wide-ranging interview with CBS News prior to Super Bowl LIII, President Donald Trump expressed safety concerns about the sport of football and acknowledged he would not encourage his 12-year-old son, Barron, to play it.

“It’s a very good question. If he wanted to? Yes. Would I steer him that way? No, I wouldn’t,” said Trump after a question from CBS News reporter Margaret Brennan. “It’s a dangerous sport and I think it’s- I- it’s- really tough, I thought the equipment would get better, and it has. The helmets have gotten far better but it hasn’t solved the problem. So, you know I- I hate to say it because I love to watch football. I think the NFL is a great product, but I really think that as far as my son- well I’ve heard NFL players saying they wouldn’t let their sons play football. So. It’s not totally unique, but I- I would have a hard time with it.”

Notably, Trump’s misgivings about the sport’s safety—and the well-being of his son—contradicted comments he made on the 2016 campaign trail, where he mocked new rules instituted by the NFL to minimize concussions among its players. “See, we don’t go by these new, and very much softer, NFL rules,” he said to a rally of supporters in Florida. “Concussion…‘Uh oh, got a little ding on the head? No, no, you can’t play for the rest of the season.’ Our people are tough.”