The haters said that sports and politics shouldn’t mix. But what will they say now as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stood alongside President Donald Trump and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday for what was billed as an announcement that the 2027 NFL Draft would be held in Washington, only for it to turn into another platform for Trump’s often nonsensical ramblings? After a standard welcome from Trump, Goodell, Bowser and Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris about the significance of holding the draft on the National Mall, it was Trump’s time to shine with more off-the-cuff remarks, and, soon, answers to questions that had nothing to do with football. With Goodell to his right, Trump answered a question about the World Cup coming to the United States (North America) in 2026. He hinted at the election he falsely claimed was stolen in 2020, sparking a smile from Goodell. “I worked very hard to get both (the World Cup and the Olympics) to the U.S.,” Trump said. “I said, ‘You know, I‘m not going to be able to be there as president.’ “And then a strange thing happened and it turned out that I became president — not for the term that I was supposed to be (Goodell smiles) — I became president for the Olymipcs and the World Cup. And we have something that maybe surpasses everything: the 250th anniversary of our country (in 2026). So that’s going to be great, that’s going to be a very big event, a year-long event." The news conference transitioned into one about everything else outside of football, including Trump’s desire to annex Canada and whether it was linked to making the United States bigger than Russia. Per Mediaite: “No, I never even thought of it that way,” Trump replied with a grin. “Although I am a real estate developer, I’ve never — I’ve never heard that question.” The offhand remark prompted laughter from those in the room, including Goodell and Bowser, who both stood beside the president. The huddle at the White House also allowed Harris to brag about a new stadium and present Trump with a Commanders jersey and a football because Trump, he said, is “the ultimate commander” — the guy who called soldiers “suckers and losers”; who fired generals; who had dozens of generals and national security officials scream for the nation not to re-elect Trump; the guy who hired Pete Hegseth and Michael Waltz to broadcast national secrets on a chat app. That “ultimate commander.” Harris, of course, also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. But wait, it got worse for the NFL group, and rightfully so. As Trump lauded the two of the most notorious prisons in history — Alcatraz and Sing Sing and insisted that the U.S. needed more law and order, although violent crime is down, Goodell nodded along. As Trump looked to his right for affirmation of his kooky idea and those insane campaign notions about immigrants taking over Midwest cities and apartment complexes and turning the U.S. into some dystopian crime-ridden country, Goodell gave his approval. But why not? After all, Trump is the pick for most NFL owners giving money to political parties and campaigns — even though he wanted their players fired and deported for kneeling for social justice. NJ Advance Media’s Kevin Manahan contributed to this story Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.