President Donald Trump renewed his call for Congress to pass the Protect College Sports Act before the upcoming recess, emphasizing the urgency of the legislation.

On Thursday night, Trump hosted more than 120 athletes, coaches, staff, and representatives from Team USA at the White House to celebrate their achievements at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The United States team earned a total of 57 medals, including 25 gold.

During the event in the East Room of the White House, Trump highlighted the importance of the collegiate athletic system, calling it "the engine of American Olympic dominance," noting it produced 88% of Team USA representatives at the Games. He urged both the House and Senate to pass the Protect College Sports Act, stating he would sign it immediately at his desk.

"I’m urging the House and the Senate to come together, bipartisan if possible and it looks like they have done, to send the bill to my desk and I will sign it. I think we have no choice," Trump said. He added, "We have to get that done. If we don’t, we’re very foolish. Nobody knows what will happen. We’re in Never-Never Land. We’re not going to let that be happening. We’re not going to let that happen to these great people and others."

The Protect College Sports Act is a bipartisan bill supported by NCAA officials that aims to provide greater antitrust legal protections for collegiate sports. It also seeks to establish a uniform framework for college athletics regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation, the transfer portal, and other key issues.

While amendments to the bill have yet to be announced and could influence Republican support, Trump expressed hope that the bill would reach the Oval Office soon with the necessary framework to protect college sports now and in the future.

Whether the Senate will act on the Protect College Sports Act remains uncertain, but Trump’s remarks signal strong presidential support for the legislation.

Sources