Trump Steelers-Bucs: President Cancels Trip

The Trump Steelers-Bucs story took a sudden turn this week. President Donald Trump was expected to attend Sunday’s Week 6 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and then, hours later, the trip was off.

CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes first reported Tuesday afternoon, citing two sources familiar with the plan, that Trump was expected at Raymond James Stadium for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff. About four hours later, Holmes reported the plans had changed, posting that the trip had been “pulled down” after her initial report went public.

A History of NFL Appearances

Had he attended, it would have been Trump’s second Steelers game in less than two years. During his 2024 campaign, he attended Pittsburgh’s Sunday night game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium as a guest of a suiteholder, watching the Steelers win 37-15 in Russell Wilson’s first start.

Trump’s sports appearances have been historic. In February 2025, he became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl, watching the Chiefs and Eagles. He has also attended a Commanders-Lions game, a Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden in June, and the Texas Longhorns’ win over Tennessee in September 2026.

Why It Changed

The reason for the reversal remains unclear, and it is not certain whether the initial report or the change in plans came first. Holmes joked that fans who had worried about the logistical headaches of a presidential visit could keep their tickets. The Steelers face the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday, October 18, with or without the president in the stands.

Source: CNN / USA Today