The Triumphs and Tribulations of Trump’s Football Franchise

Before Donald Trump aimed for political power, he sought to expand his business empire by investing in sports. He became the owner of the New Jersey Generals when the United States Football League (USFL) launched in 1982, which aimed to be an alternative for year-round football. Trump’s involvement began in 1983 when he invested $10 million into the team, announcing it from the newly opened Trump Tower in New York City. The Generals even held cheerleader tryouts there, attended by his then-wife Ivana Trump and artist Andy Warhol. While Trump’s financial support was initially a boon for the struggling USFL, his tenure with the league would soon come to an end. Here’s a look at the journey of Trump’s football team.

The USFL, founded by David Dixon, aimed to run as a spring football league but began to face financial challenges despite its initial popularity. Trump’s influx of cash into the New Jersey Generals helped raise the league’s profile. Despite his team’s success, multiple teams folded, forcing Trump to capitalize on the publicity surrounding the league. By pursuing star players like Lawrence Taylor from the New York Giants, Trump aimed to elevate the Generals and potentially rival the NFL.

The USFL attempted to challenge the NFL through an antitrust lawsuit, accusing it of monopolizing broadcasting rights. Trump testified and brought notable figures to support the case. Although the jury found in favor of the USFL, they granted only a nominal $3.00 in damages because they decided that the NFL did not restrict broadcasting access. Consequently, the USFL had to suspend operations. Even years later, Trump remained keen on NFL ownership, making a bid for the Buffalo Bills in 2014, which was unsuccessful. The Bills later improved significantly, hinting at a potential Super Bowl chance.