Trump joins 'Pat McAfee Show' after Veterans Day address, praises shutdown deal and talks sports
.@POTUS on the Democrat shutdown: "They tried to basically renegotiate the [One Big Beautiful Bill]—they weren't able to get it, and now they said, 'Let's close up our country...'"
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 11, 2025
"We got the military paid anyway... there's NO WAY we weren't going to pay the military." pic.twitter.com/q3cyDJvOGs
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: Fresh off his Veterans Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, November 11, President Donald Trump made a surprise call-in appearance on ESPN’s 'The Pat McAfee Show', blending sports banter with political boasts to his administration’s latest deal to end the government shutdown.
Trump touts shutdown deal and praises lawmakers
Calling in just after his wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Trump told McAfee that he wanted to join the show because the host had “said such nice things about me.”
“It’s Veterans Day, and we’re talking to veterans,” Trump said. “And you know, we have a 92% rating at the VA.”
During his Veterans Day address and later on McAfee’s show, Trump celebrated the Senate’s passage of a short-term spending bill to reopen the federal government after weeks of partisan deadlock.
“Congratulations to you and to John (Thune) and to everybody on a very big victory,” Trump said, referring to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. “We’re opening up our country. Should have never been closed.”
He expressed confidence that the House would follow suit, “I think they’re going to vote positively. I think most people want to see it open. Only people that hate our country want to see it not open, because our country is doing so well.”
Trump mixes sports and politics
On McAfee’s show, Trump veered from policy talk to sports strategy, saying that top NFL coaches could make “great warring generals.”
“Ultimately, it’s all about strategy,” he said. “I’ll bet you some of these coaches would make great generals, you have to be an expert strategist to be an elite coach.”
He also discussed the Ryder Cup, golf course diplomacy, and which NFL teams he’s been rooting for this season, mixing humor with political flair.
.@POTUS gives a big "OORAH" to a group of new Marines on the @PatMcAfeeShow 🔥🔥🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/vEUDwe6DdJ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 11, 2025
Broadcasting from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina, McAfee asked Trump for a message to the troops. The president responded with an enthusiastic “Ooh-rah!”
Trump used the moment to highlight his administration’s veterans’ initiatives, including efforts to reduce homelessness, speed up VA benefits processing, and reform the VA home loan program.
“We’ve already cut the VA backlog by half and processed more than three million claims,” Trump said earlier at Arlington. “We’re going to get it down to zero. Veterans deserve nothing less.”
Trump takes shots at Joe Biden
Trump also took aim at former President Joe Biden, accusing his administration of putting “sadists” in charge of veterans’ affairs.
“That’s over with now,” Trump said. “We’ve put in loving people who actually care about our vets. We’ve got the right team.”
.@PatMcAfeeShow on interviewing @POTUS: "It's Veterans Day. He's the Commander-in-Chief. Obviously, if we have the opportunity to talk to him, we're going to. And he is hilarious."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 11, 2025
✅ TRUE! pic.twitter.com/HH5Lb6zIJ1
McAfee, anticipating backlash for hosting the president, defended the interview.
“He’s the commander-in-chief,” the ESPN host said. “If we have the opportunity to talk to him, we’re going to and he’s hilarious.”
Trump returned the compliment, saying, “You’ve said such nice things about me, I couldn’t say no.”
