>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
Donald Trump.
The Donald Trump has made America 250 a major focus of his administration, promising what he has called “the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen.”
Planned events tied to the celebration include an IndyCar race on the National Mall, a UFC fight hosted at the White House, and nationwide participation from major sports leagues.
That alone was enough to send progressive commentators into outrage mode.
Major leagues join America 250 effort
The NFL was not acting alone. Nearly every major professional league has signed on to honor America’s 250th birthday, including the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, and MLS.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed last November that the league would integrate the anniversary throughout the 2026 season. That includes commemorative footballs, special field stencils, and now Super Bowl uniform patches.
The reaction from the sports media left was immediate and hostile.
Yahoo Sports labeled the patches “gaudy” and emphasized that they were “Trump-backed,” framing a patriotic emblem as something suspicious or dangerous.
The Athletic also stoked controversy by reporting on a planned White House meeting between Trump and league commissioners. That meeting was postponed due to winter weather, but that did not stop liberal columnists from demanding the commissioners cancel altogether and “have a spine” against Trump’s plans.
This has all happened before
The outrage looks even more absurd when viewed through the lens of history.
The NFL did almost the exact same thing in 1976.
During Super Bowl X, both the Steelers and Cowboys wore special Bicentennial patches celebrating America’s 200th birthday. That game was the first major sporting event of the Bicentennial year and the patriotic branding was everywhere.
The patch design even came from the same graphic designer who created NASA’s iconic logo.
Back then, no one melted down. No one accused the league of authoritarian messaging. No one demanded boycotts.
The difference was simple.
Gerald Ford was president, not Trump.
America embraced patriotism in 1976
The Bicentennial was a full-scale national celebration.
Tall ships filled American harbors. Cities repainted fire hydrants and mailboxes in patriotic colors. Movies joined in too, with “Rocky” famously featuring Apollo Creed dressed as the founding fathers.
The Dallas Cowboys even altered their helmet design for the entire 1976 season, replacing one of their blue stripes with red to honor the occasion.
That same spirit is now being revived for America 250.
But this time, legacy media outlets and left-wing activists are treating patriotic symbolism as something sinister.
Super Bowl LX will move forward regardless
Despite the online hysteria, the NFL is not backing down.
Fans attending Super Bowl LX will see America 250 stenciled along the sidelines at Levi’s Stadium on February 8. The ceremonial coins used for the opening and overtime coin tosses will feature the America 250 logo and later be auctioned for charity.
Other leagues are rolling out their own plans.
Major League Baseball has pledged 250,000 volunteer hours nationwide. The NBA has announced community service initiatives and special broadcast elements tied to the anniversary.
Under any other president, these efforts would be praised as unifying and patriotic.
Because Trump is involved, they are treated as evidence of some imagined political threat.
This was never about patches
The meltdown over the Super Bowl uniforms was never really about fabric or design.
It was about Trump.
The same people who once celebrated patriotic displays now rage against red, white, and blue if the wrong president dares to support them.
America will still mark its 250th birthday. The NFL and other leagues will still honor the milestone. And millions of fans will enjoy the game without apologizing for loving their country.
Meanwhile, the loudest critics will keep raging over a simple patch on a football jersey.
