Donald Trump’s decision to skip this weekend’s Super Bowl is notable out given his frequent appearances at major sporting events during his second term. While he publicly blamed the absence on the game being played in Santa Clara — he told the New York Post that the cross-country trip was “too far away” — a report from Zeteo suggests a different motivation.
According to the outlet, “Several aides and advisers to the president quietly determined that the chances were rather high of Trump getting booed,” creating the opportunity for “a wealth of viral video clips and media coverage that administration officials would prefer to avoid.”
It makes sense: Trump’s approval ratings are currently hovering around 40%, Santa Clara isn’t exactly a conservative stronghold, and neither are the cities where the fanbases of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots hail from. Plus, there’s a good chance that both the game’s pregame ceremony performer, Green Day, and halftime headliner Bad Bunny will make political statements in protest of the president. All that’s to say, it’s not exactly a hospitable environment for Trump.
