NBC Faces Criticism Over Brief Coverage of Trump at Steelers Game

NBC is under fire for its brief coverage of former President Donald Trump during the Sunday Night Football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets. Trump, who attended the game as a guest in one of the suites, was shown on camera for less than 10 seconds, sparking outrage from his supporters.

Many are calling out the network for what they see as a deliberate slight, especially in light of NBC’s much more extended and enthusiastic coverage of pop star Taylor Swift during Kansas City Chiefs games.

During the brief moment Trump was shown, commentator Mike Tirico simply mentioned, “The 45th president, Donald Trump, in attendance tonight, the invited guest of one of the suite-holders here,” before the broadcast cut away to an overhead shot of the stadium. Despite chants of “USA! USA!” erupting from the crowd during Trump’s appearance, NBC did not capture or broadcast those moments.

🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP IS HERE AT THE STEELERS GAME!

LFG!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/gKghprCjia

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 21, 2024

Fans took to social media to express their displeasure. John Le Fevre, a social media commentator, noted, “On average, NBC shows Taylor Swift seven times during an NFL broadcast. Tonight, they showed Trump only once, and just for a few seconds.” This sentiment was echoed by many others who pointed out what they considered a double standard. One user remarked, “I’m amazed NBC showed Trump at the game. It was very brief, but you know it killed NBC to have to acknowledge Trump’s presence. But if it was Taylor Swift, they would have dedicated a 3-minute segment to it.”

The comparison to Swift’s frequent NFL appearances was a recurring theme in the criticism. Swift, who has been attending Chiefs games to support her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce, has become a major focus of NFL broadcasts. NBC’s repeated cutaways to Swift during Chiefs games have drawn both praise and criticism from viewers, and the contrast in coverage when Trump attended the Steelers game was not lost on his supporters.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was quick to point out NBC’s omission of key moments from the crowd’s reaction to Trump. Kirk posted a video showing the fans applauding and chanting for the former president, captioning it as “actual footage of the Steelers game tonight NBC won’t show you.”

Actual footage of the Steelers game tonight NBC won’t show you. pic.twitter.com/iK35jYAiDc

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 21, 2024

The controversy over Trump’s appearance at the game comes as he ramps up efforts to engage with younger voters, particularly young men, many of whom have inconsistent voting records. His presence at high-profile events like Sunday Night Football is part of a broader strategy to connect with this demographic. Over the past few months, Trump has made appearances on comedy podcasts, professional wrestling events, and even professional fighting arenas, all in an effort to appeal to younger, often apolitical, voters who could be key in the upcoming election.

By attending the Steelers game, Trump also made a strategic nod to Pennsylvania, one of the most critical swing states in presidential elections. The state, which helped secure his victory in 2016 and played a crucial role in Joe Biden’s 2020 win, is once again expected to be a battleground in 2024. Trump’s connection with the Steelers and their fanbase in the state is part of his ongoing efforts to win over voters in key regions.

While Swift has drawn considerable attention for her NFL appearances, her political endorsements have also caused waves. Recently, Swift publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that has not been welcomed by all within the Chiefs’ inner circle. Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, creating a subtle divide within the Chiefs fandom. Trump, in typical fashion, responded with gratitude to Brittany Mahomes, praising her support for his campaign and thanking her for defending him.

In September, Trump posted on social media, “I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country.” He also praised her husband, Patrick Mahomes, and hinted at seeing them at the Super Bowl, further cementing his ties to the NFL and its cultural relevance.

Trump’s appearance at the Steelers game, though brief, is a part of his calculated effort to tap into key demographics and swing states. The backlash against NBC’s handling of his attendance highlights the ongoing polarization in American media coverage, with every gesture and moment being scrutinized for political bias. Whether intentional or not, NBC’s choice to minimize Trump’s presence compared to their coverage of Swift did not go unnoticed, and the reaction from Trump’s base suggests that media outlets will continue to face criticism for how they handle political figures in non-political arenas.