The NFL Draft always brings surprises, but nobody expected politics to crash the party this year. After Donald Trump gave Shedeur Sanders a big public shoutout during his unexpected slide, the Cleveland Browns finally called Sanders' name. And now, the White House is stepping in to suggest that Trump's post might have had something to do with it.
Donald Trump’s public praise for Shedeur Sanders fueled controversy around the draft
Everything kicked off when Shedeur Sanders, who many thought would go in the first round, kept slipping further down the draft board. Watching it unfold, Donald Trump jumped onto Truth Social with a fiery post.
“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID?” Trump wrote, calling Deion Sanders "streetwise and smart" and saying Shedeur had "phenomenal genes" and was destined for greatness. Trump encouraged teams to "pick him immediately."
This endorsement instantly made waves, not just in sports circles, but also politically. Sanders continued to fall through the second and third rounds before the Cleveland Browns eventually picked him up in the fifth round.
White House’s cryptic comment suggests Trump helped influence Browns’ decision
During Monday's White House press briefing, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked if Trump deserved any credit for Sanders' selection. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t outright say yes but she definitely left the door open.
“All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later, he was drafted,” Leavitt said. “I think the facts speak for themselves on that one.”
That small comment immediately fueled speculation. Did Trump’s praise actually pressure teams, especially one with Republican ties, to finally pick Shedeur Sanders? Or was it all just a coincidence? Either way, the internet had thoughts.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s political ties deepen the speculation
The Browns picking Sanders didn't just raise eyebrows because of Trump’s post, it also came against the backdrop of owner Jimmy Haslam’s political connections.
Haslam, a major Republican donor, has a long history of influencing big decisions in Cleveland’s front office. He once famously insisted on drafting Johnny Manziel after taking advice from a homeless man. Since then, the Browns have cycled through 18 starting quarterbacks.
This past election cycle, Haslam and his wife Dee donated around $2 million to Republican causes. However, it's worth noting they did not donate directly to Trump’s campaign instead backing Senator Tim Scott. Still, the political undertones surrounding the Shedeur pick were impossible to ignore.
Even Browns GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski had muted reactions when the pick was announced, further fueling rumors that the front office wasn’t fully on board with the move.
Did Donald Trump really help Shedeur Sanders get drafted? Or was it all just crazy timing? No one can say for sure, but the Browns' pick and the White House’s comments have created a moment where sports, politics, and internet chaos all collided.
Also read - Derek Carr shares heartbreaking news of his wife’s miscarriage and calls out the media over injury reports
Donald Trump’s public praise for Shedeur Sanders fueled controversy around the draft
Everything kicked off when Shedeur Sanders, who many thought would go in the first round, kept slipping further down the draft board. Watching it unfold, Donald Trump jumped onto Truth Social with a fiery post.
“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID?” Trump wrote, calling Deion Sanders "streetwise and smart" and saying Shedeur had "phenomenal genes" and was destined for greatness. Trump encouraged teams to "pick him immediately."
This endorsement instantly made waves, not just in sports circles, but also politically. Sanders continued to fall through the second and third rounds before the Cleveland Browns eventually picked him up in the fifth round.
White House’s cryptic comment suggests Trump helped influence Browns’ decision
During Monday's White House press briefing, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked if Trump deserved any credit for Sanders' selection. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t outright say yes but she definitely left the door open.
“All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later, he was drafted,” Leavitt said. “I think the facts speak for themselves on that one.”
That small comment immediately fueled speculation. Did Trump’s praise actually pressure teams, especially one with Republican ties, to finally pick Shedeur Sanders? Or was it all just a coincidence? Either way, the internet had thoughts.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s political ties deepen the speculation
The Browns picking Sanders didn't just raise eyebrows because of Trump’s post, it also came against the backdrop of owner Jimmy Haslam’s political connections.
Haslam, a major Republican donor, has a long history of influencing big decisions in Cleveland’s front office. He once famously insisted on drafting Johnny Manziel after taking advice from a homeless man. Since then, the Browns have cycled through 18 starting quarterbacks.
This past election cycle, Haslam and his wife Dee donated around $2 million to Republican causes. However, it's worth noting they did not donate directly to Trump’s campaign instead backing Senator Tim Scott. Still, the political undertones surrounding the Shedeur pick were impossible to ignore.
Even Browns GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski had muted reactions when the pick was announced, further fueling rumors that the front office wasn’t fully on board with the move.
Did Donald Trump really help Shedeur Sanders get drafted? Or was it all just crazy timing? No one can say for sure, but the Browns' pick and the White House’s comments have created a moment where sports, politics, and internet chaos all collided.
Also read - Derek Carr shares heartbreaking news of his wife’s miscarriage and calls out the media over injury reports
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