Trump is going to the Super Bowl. That's a good thing – more presidents should. | Opinion
Trump at the Super Bowl? This is great, regardless of what critics say. I'm surprised more presidents haven't done this.
President Donald Trump is attending the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, the first sitting president to do so.
I'll admit that I don't care much about football − even if I live in Texas − but this is a good thing. Actually, this is great, regardless of what critics say. I'm surprised more presidents haven't done this.
I love watching the Super Bowl. It's a great excuse to gather with family and friends and eat junk food. Often, the halftime show is a blast − shout out to Usher − and the commercials are buzz-worthy, too. What's not to love? It's an excuse to eat, relax and yell at the television over one of America's favorite past times: Beating the crap out of each other for a trophy.
I'd expect Trump to be at the Super Bowl because that's where America's eyes will be this Sunday and he's our president, like it or not. Trump loves to be at the center of the action, and everyone will be crooning as Taylor Swift watches her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, play against the Philadelphia Eagles. Trump probably sees this as an opportunity to bolster his image among Republicans.
Did I mention Taylor Swift will be there?
Trump attending the Super Bowl is a good thing. He's our president.
Hate all you want − my youngest child says the Super Bowl is rigged, thanks to Swift − but she's been a boon for football and the NFL. During last year's Super Bowl, the NFL saw record viewership, 123.7 million views to be exact, as Americans watched Swift watch her man win another Super Bowl ring.
What do you think a Trump visit will do for those ratings and conversations around the world?
In any case, Trump's attendance is predictable, sure, because he loves attention. But it's also great and it demands one obvious question: Why haven't more presidents gone to the Super Bowl?
Aside from the security nightmare it undoubtedly presents, the entire event is a great way to show the average American that the not-so-average president is just like us.
Plus, it seems like a lot of fun, and it will make half of America happy and the other half mad. The only other thing that can do that is an election, which Trump won.
Nicole Russell is a columnist at Paste BN and a mother of four who lives in Texas. Contact her at nrussell@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @russell_nm. Sign up for her weekly newsletter, The Right Track, here.