Super Bowl defeat reignites Donald Trump jinx claims
The New England Patriots’ 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Sunday prompted a familiar reaction among fans: renewed talk of a supposed sporting jinx linked to Donald Trump.
The idea of a “Trump curse” has no factual basis, but it has become a recurring piece of sports folklore during the opening year of Trump’s second term as US president. Each high-profile defeat tied loosely to his presence, predictions, or associations tends to revive the narrative.
How a superstition took hold
Over time, supporters and critics alike have pointed to a run of losses involving teams Trump has publicly supported or been seen alongside. While the connections are coincidental, the pattern has gained traction across social media and sports commentary, where symbolism often matters as much as results.
Trump did not attend Super Bowl LX and did not publicly back either team. His absence followed a public dispute with halftime performer Bad Bunny. Even so, his name quickly surfaced in post-game discussion once the Patriots fell behind.
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Examples fans keep citing
One recent case came in November, when Trump publicly voiced support for the Washington Commanders ahead of their NFL matchup with the Detroit Lions. The Commanders were heavily beaten, losing 44–22, according to NFL game results.
Comparable narratives have emerged outside football. After Trump paid a visit to the New York Yankees, the team was eliminated from the American League Division Series in October, losing 3–1 to the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Major League Baseball records. In golf, Trump met members of the US Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black ahead of the 2025 competition, which Team Europe ultimately won.
Individually, none of the outcomes are unusual. Together, they have helped sustain the superstition.
A mixed record with Super Bowl calls
Trump’s Super Bowl predictions have also been scrutinized. Ahead of last year’s championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, he publicly backed Kansas City.
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Speaking to Fox News, Trump said: “I guess you have to say that when a quarterback [Mahomes] wins as much as he has won, I have to go with Kansas City.”
The Chiefs went on to lose 40–22.
Patriots struggle after Kraft meeting
In the build-up to Super Bowl LX, Patriots owner Robert Kraft crossed paths with Trump at the New York premiere of Melania, a documentary focusing on the president’s wife.
On the field, New England struggled early, failing to score in the first three quarters and only finding the scoreboard late as Seattle controlled the contest.
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Kraft has long maintained a cordial relationship with Trump and previously donated $1 million to his re-election campaign. For some fans, the timing was enough to fold the Patriots’ defeat into the broader narrative.
As with most sports “curses,” the phenomenon reflects fan culture more than causation. Still, each fresh loss ensures the story continues to resurface.
Sources: Fox News, NFL, Major League Baseball
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