“Two very interesting teams” – When Donald Trump appeared to forget who was playing in the Super Bowl
Anyone reading this should be able to name the two teams playing in the Super Bowl this year. Most would agree that as close to a holiday as the Super Bowl is, most Americans should have some level of understanding of the game. However, one man charged with knowing his domestic territory as well as anyone in the nation appeared to be almost at a loss for words when asked about the game.
In early 2020, President Donald Trump was asked about the game and answered in a way many assumed indicated that he didn't know anything about what was going on in the biggest stage in sports. Here's how he put his analysis of the game, according to Ryan Struyk on Twitter via SB Nation:
"Well, I love them both, let's just say. But I will tell you, some two very interesting teams and interesting players, some really great players. And it's going to be hopefully a great Super Bowl."
Trump when asked who he wants to win the Super Bowl: "Well, I love them both, let's just say. But I will tell you, some two very interesting teams and interesting players, some really great players. And it's going to be hopefully a great Super Bowl."
Naturally, those sided against the president's party and the man himself took a moment to laugh at his attempt to not admit his lack of knowledge. Even if the sport didn't interest the leader of the 50 states, knowing something about one of the bigger economic centers of commerce on this side of Christmas would be reasonable, some would argue.
@ryanstruyk Change the words “super bowl” for any other topic and it fits
What is the economic impact of the Super Bowl?
In terms of the betting scene alone, Sunday's game has $16 billion at stake for bettors per PBS. Meanwhile, the purchase of the advertisement alone draws in up to $10 million or more per 30-second advertisement, according to Dateline via Fox Sports. Not to mention, the big game has flooded the city of Phoenix with additional travelers with full wallets.
Nearly 5,000 jobs were created for the big game in 2022, according to Bloomberglinea. While the economic impact of the Super Bowl is a fraction of what Christmas draws in for the country, the impact is still sizable. The Christmas season creates more than $900 billion in economic movement, per Statista.
Who will win the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday?
However, one could estimate that just one football game could generate close to $20 billion, regardless of whether Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts win the Super Bowl.
That said, the game the president may or may not have known about was the Super Bowl between Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo. To many, Mahomes' first Lombardi was their clearest memory before the pandemic struck. For years, it served as the final memory of normalcy before the world took a sharp left turn.
To many, this year's NFL championship serves as a full circle moment almost three years after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns.