President Donald Trump shared a video on Truth Social that depicts former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
President Donald Trump may not be attending the Super Bowl this year, but he’s still partaking in one of the big game’s traditions.
A prerecorded interview with the president will air on NBC ahead of the game, the network previously announced.
The interview, which was conducted by NBC News anchor Tom Llamas, was filmed at the White House on Feb. 4, four days before the NFL’s biggest night.
Some portions of the interview aired on Feb. 4, first during “NBC Nightly News” and then on NBC News NOW’s “Top Story with Tom Llamas.”
The segment to air during NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show on Feb. 8 will feature more content from the interview that has not yet been shown.
It is a Super Bowl week tradition for the network carrying the big game to interview the sitting president.
How to watch Trump’s Super Bowl pregame interview
Trump’s Super Bowl interview will air on NBC and Peacock during the network’s Super Bowl LX pregame coverage.
The pregame show will begin at 1 p.m. ET and continue up until the start of the game at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
While NBC has not announced the exact time that Trump’s interview will air, the pregame show is also slated to carry a variety of other interviews with players and coaches as well.
Streaming providers that carry NBC, such as Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DIRECTV, will air the show live.
Peacock offers three subscription options: Select for $7.99 per month, Premium for $10.99 per month and Premium Plus for $16.99 per month.
President interview is Super Bowl week tradition
Since 2004, when CBS interviewed former President George W. Bush during Super Bowl week, it’s become a tradition for the network hosting the game to have a sit-down with the president.
President Barack Obama continued the custom throughout his two terms in office, but Trump and former President Joe Biden did not consistently participate in the Super Bowl week interview for all four years of their respective terms.
During Trump’s first presidency, he gave interviews for three out of four years — with Fox in 2017 and 2020 and CBS in 2019. He opted to forego the sit-down when NBC hosted the Super Bowl in 2018.
Biden participated in Super Bowl week interviews in 2021 and 2022, but skipped them in 2023 and 2024.
As for Trump’s second term so far, last year he was interviewed by Fox ahead of the Super Bowl.
Trump won’t attend Super Bowl this year
Trump is a longtime friend of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, but he won’t be watching the team play in person this year.
He told the New York Post in a Jan. 23 interview that the game is “just too far away.” The Super Bowl this year is on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, at Levi’s Stadium, the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The president also told the outlet he’s unhappy about the musical performers, which include noted Trump critics Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and the rock band Green Day.
“I’m anti-them,” said the president, though he stressed that’s not his reason for avoiding the game. “I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
Last year, Trump became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. It was hosted in New Orleans.
Contributing: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].
