In return for opening the White House doors, presidents have been rewarded with replica jerseys, signed balls and winning headlines in regional newspapers. His attacks on NFL players and the league’s handling of the protests have resonated with his political base and have damaged television ratings. ESPN contacted the White House in March to offer Trump a chance to do a selection bracket of his NCAA tournament picks, but he declined, a source close to the network said. Josh Earnest, a White House press secretary for Obama, said the former president was a genuine sports fan who had fun meeting the athletes and participating in the events. “That seems to be a sport Trump is a genuine fan of,” Earnest said, “and one that fits his personality.”

Source: Washington Post November 21, 2017 00:00 UTC