With this year's huge Super Bowl LX extravaganza already underway in San Francisco, Donald Trump has issued a statement on the event that he has pointedly decided to not attend.
As pre-game musicians were packing away and the New England Patriots stared down favorites the Seattle Seahawks, President Trump decided to finally have his say on Truth Social, after last week telling the New York Post that the game was 'too far' for him to travel.
He also had some harsh criticism for the performers at the biggest event in the NFL calendar, saying that he had never heard of Bad Bunny, who will be the first-ever Spanish language artist to solo headline the all-important halftime show.
The president said: “I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.” But in a more convivial tone as millions of Americans and people from around the world tuned in for the huge event, Trump proclaimed: "Enjoy the Super Bowl, America!" He also made his pick, kind of.
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His more upbeat message on Truth Social continued: "Our Country is stronger, bigger, and better than ever before and, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"
But with the hype building before the must-watch event, Trump could not help but stir the pot by seeming to pick a team to win the 60th Super Bowl.
In a direct address to camera, Trump posted a teasing message on X, which said: "I have a feeling this is going to be a great Super Bowl. I've watched all season I've seen these two teams just win, win, win.
"I see two great quarterbacks, young great quarterbacks. It's going to be a fantastic Super Bowl and everyone wants to hear who I pick, and I tell you what..."
Then in a classic bait and switch, the video cuts to black.
If Trump has been watching the NFL 'all season' while running the largest economy on Earth, it is not clear why he would not want to witness Super Bowl LX, which looks to settle one of the great narratives in recent football history.
The once dominant Patriots, who under Brady and coach Belichick won six championship and made it to the Super Bowl a commanding nine times, have been spinning in the wind in recent years.
But under coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye, the team once branded the ‘evil empire’ has fought its way back into the final after failing to make playoffs for three straight years.
In addition to snapping up Vrabel, the Patriots have also tried spending their way back to a championship ring this season, outspending every other team by a significant margin.
This season alone, the team has splashed $364 million on fresh talent - roughly $100 million more than the net team.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks are the bookmakers' favorite, a radical reversal in fortunes from the Patriots' years as the dominant force in the entire NFL.
Their performance this season has seen the Seahawks pull ahead as probably the best team in football, with a strong defense for the Patriots to break through.
But if they do, the New England team will finally hold the title of most Super Bowl titles in the history of the NFL.
Topics: Donald Trump, Truth Social, Bad Bunny, NFL
William Morgan