Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-24**Lead**
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested the National Football League “could’ve probably postponed” its upcoming regular-season game scheduled for Paris, citing ongoing mass protests across France that have left police forces stretched dangerously thin. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump questioned the timing of the NFL’s international expansion, arguing that holding a major sporting event in a city grappling with civil unrest places an unnecessary burden on local authorities and risks the safety of players and fans alike.
**Context**
The NFL is set to play its first-ever regular-season game in Paris on November 10, 2026, as part of the league’s aggressive push into European markets. The matchup, featuring the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears, was announced in 2024 as a centerpiece of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. However, France has been rocked by weeks of escalating protests over proposed pension reforms and rising fuel costs, with demonstrations turning violent in several major cities, including Paris. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin recently acknowledged that police and gendarme forces are “operating at maximum capacity,” with over 45,000 officers deployed daily to manage protests, according to reports from Le Monde and Agence France-Presse.
The protests, which began in late September, have led to the closure of major thoroughfares, damage to public property, and hundreds of arrests. The French government has warned that the security situation remains volatile, particularly in central Paris, where the NFL game is scheduled to be held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Local police unions have publicly expressed concern about diverting officers from protest duty to secure a private sporting event, with one union representative telling France Info that “every officer assigned to the stadium is one less officer protecting neighborhoods and critical infrastructure.”
The NFL, for its part, has maintained that the game will proceed as planned, citing close coordination with French authorities. League spokesperson Brian McCarthy stated last week that the NFL has “full confidence in the French government’s ability to ensure a safe and secure environment for all attendees.” The league has also pointed to its experience hosting games in London and Mexico City, even during periods of local unrest. However, Trump’s comments mark the first high-profile political intervention in the debate, reigniting a long-standing tension between the former president and the NFL over issues of patriotism, security, and national priorities.
**Analise**
Trump’s remarks are significant not only because they inject a political voice into a sports logistics debate, but because they tap into a broader anxiety about the militarization of public events and the limits of police capacity. The former president has a history of clashing with the NFL, most notably over player protests during the national anthem, but his latest critique shifts the focus from cultural politics to operational security. By suggesting the league “could’ve probably postponed” the Paris game, Trump is implicitly questioning whether the NFL’s commercial ambitions are outweighing prudent risk assessment. This line of argument resonates with a segment of the American public that views international sporting events as frivolous during times of foreign crisis, especially when U.S. allies are struggling to maintain domestic order.
From a security standpoint, the concerns are not unfounded. Hosting an NFL game requires a significant police presence: perimeter security, traffic management, crowd control, and counterterrorism measures. In a city already under strain, the additional burden could create gaps elsewhere. Security analysts have noted that large-scale events have historically been targets for protest groups seeking maximum visibility. The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, for example, saw several protests staged outside venues, though no major security breaches occurred. Still, the current climate is more volatile, with some protest factions explicitly calling for disruption of “symbols of American capitalism,” according to a report from the French intelligence service DGSI, which was cited by Le Figaro.
For the NFL, the decision to proceed is a calculated gamble. The league has invested heavily in its international brand, with Commissioner Roger Goodell repeatedly stating that global expansion is a top priority. Canceling or postponing the Paris game would not only incur significant financial penalties—estimated at over $50 million in lost revenue, according to industry analysts—but would also signal to other international partners that the NFL is skittish about operating in politically unstable environments. However, proceeding amid protests risks alienating fans and players who may feel unsafe. Several players have already expressed private reservations, though no public boycotts have been announced. The NFL Players Association has declined to comment on Trump’s statement, but sources close to the union told ESPN that player safety remains the “overriding concern.”
**Fontes**
This article is based on public statements made by former President Donald Trump on October 24, 2026, as reported by multiple news outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Fox News. Information on French police deployment and protest conditions is drawn from reports by Le Monde, Agence France-Presse, France Info, and Le Figaro, as well as official statements from French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. NFL scheduling and security details are sourced from the NFL’s official press releases and statements by league spokesperson Brian McCarthy, as reported by ESPN and NFL Network. Player safety concerns are based on background conversations reported by ESPN. No individuals have been named beyond those publicly identified in verified media reports.