Trump Set to Join NCAA Wrestling Championships in Politically Blue Philadelphia
Sarah Johnson
March 20, 2025
Brief
Donald Trump will attend the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in Philadelphia, marking another major sports appearance as the city hosts the tournament at Wells Fargo Center.
Former President Donald Trump is heading to Philadelphia this weekend to attend the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, adding another high-profile sporting event to his list of appearances.
The news broke when OutKick co-founder Clay Travis posted on X that he would be traveling "with" Trump on Air Force One to the championships. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt chimed in with a confirming reply, saying, "See you this weekend!"
Philadelphia, a city with a long Democratic history, might seem like an unlikely backdrop for Trump's visit. The City of Brotherly Love has elected Democratic mayors since 1952, with its current mayor, Cherelle Parker, assuming office just this January. In the last election cycle, Philadelphia leaned heavily blue, giving 78.57% of its vote to Kamala Harris—a slight dip compared to Joe Biden's numbers in 2020.
Trump has built a reputation for enjoying high-profile sports events, having attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans and the Daytona 500 last month. He even became the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. While he hasn’t made it to a UFC fight since taking office, he did drop by Madison Square Garden for one shortly after winning his election. The Army-Navy game has also been part of his sports itinerary—a tradition President Biden hasn’t continued during his tenure.
As for the wrestling championships, they’re returning to Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center for the first time since 2011. Back then, Penn State dominated, launching a streak that has seen them win eight of the last 13 titles, including the last three. If the Nittany Lions pull off another win this weekend, they’ll secure their third four-peat in this remarkable run.
Looking ahead, the championships will make history in 2028 when they take place in a football stadium—U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. This was initially planned for 2020 but canceled due to the pandemic. For now, fans can catch the action from Thursday to Saturday as the tournament unfolds.
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Editor's Comments
Trump sure knows how to steal the spotlight, even in a city that’s politically painted blue. Attending the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia feels like a bold—if not calculated—move for the former president. And let’s talk about Penn State: their streak is nothing short of legendary. If they snag another four-peat, they might as well start handing out their own championship rings!
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