UFC, NASCAR, the PGA and horse racing are paving the way for other sports to return from the COVID-19 induced hiatus. As the entire country braces for that return to come without fans in attendance, President Trump has different ideas.
“We want big, big stadiums loaded with people,” Trump told NBC’s Mike Tirico Sunday afternoon. “We want to get back to normal, where you have the big crowds and they’re practically standing on top of each other, and they’re enjoying themselves.”
The conversation came during NBC’s coverage of the TaylorMade Driving Relief charity event which raised $5.5 million for COVID-19 relief. NBC aired the two-man skins competition from 2 – 6pm ET on Sunday.
It seems a long way off, to have people “standing on top of each other” at any event, but the president also told Tirico he wants sports to return quickly. “We are getting it back and it’s going to be fast.”
“Things can happen very quickly,” the president added. “We are looking at vaccines, we are looking at cures. We are very, very far down the line. I think people are going to be very impressed with what is being developed right now.”
The sentiment opposes what NIAID director Dr. Fauci told The New York Times a few weeks ago, when he questioned the ability for sports to return.
“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” Dr. Fauci said to the Times. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.”
As president Trump signed off from the interview on NBC, the avid golf fan and course owner, reflected back to when he played golf with Tirico.
“Thank you very much, Mike and it was great playing golf with you guys — I remember that very well and we had a good time,” Trump said, which was followed by a pause from Tirico.
“I got to see firsthand, you’re a good putter, knock it to kick-in distance often,” Tirico finally responded, with what could have been construed as a backhanded compliment.
