President Donald Trump on Thursday broke his silence over competing bills that would implement major changes to college sports, backing a bipartisan Senate measure and calling for the House and Senate to come together and send him legislation to sign this summer.
In a social media post, Trump backed the Senate’s bill, primarily drafted by Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking Democrat Maria Cantwell of Washington. Missouri GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt and Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons were original co-sponsors.
“This Law resolves many of the most urgent issues challenging our Universities and Student-Athletes, stops the chaos and, most importantly, it may be the last chance to save College Sports, and Colleges themselves, before it’s too late,” Trump wrote, a day after the panel heard from a number of college officials who also support the measure.
A longtime sports fan, Trump for months has called collegiate athletics a seriously flawed industry that could soon collapse under the financial weight of its name, image and likeness or “NIL” policies. Echoing college officials, coaches, fans and many lawmakers, the president also has criticized the transfer portal for creating chaos and undermining student-athletes.
