'A Very Big Deal': Trump Celebrates DC Hosting NFL 2027 Draft And Revitalization Of RFK Stadium

President Trump spoke to reporters on Monday about Washington, D.C. hosting the 2027 NFL Draft.

Transcript

00:00Hello, everybody. It's great to have you. It's a very important announcement. Very,

00:18very amazing, I think, for D.C., but even for the country, because it's, to me, a very

00:24big deal. I'd like to thank NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Washington Commander's owner

00:31Josh Harris, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Secretary Scott Turner, Secretary Doug

00:39Burgum, and I see Howard Lutnick is here, too, Commerce, and some others that, if I could

00:45see past the press, I'd name you, but I can't. I'm pleased to reveal that the 2027 NFL draft,

00:53that's a big thing. We'll be held right here in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.,

01:00on the National Mall, and you get a little glimpse of it.

01:11I don't think, I was just saying to Roger, I don't think there's ever been anything like

01:16that. That's a good idea. In fact, maybe we could use it for other things also. I have

01:20an idea. It's going to be beautiful. It's going to be something that nobody else will

01:25ever be able to duplicate that, I don't suspect. It's very exciting. Every year, hundreds of

01:30young football players have their dreams come true as the NFL teams across the land, and

01:35you just saw that last week. Select the best young players in America to join their ranks.

01:41Hundreds of thousands of football fans will travel all across our country to cheer them

01:46on in person. We expect, would you say, more than 100,000 people, I think. What is the capacity

01:53would you think it can hold? Because the mall can actually hold up to a million people,

01:58if you go all the way back. What do you think? Over three days, we'll be over a million.

02:01Oh yeah, you're going to be. You're going to have to.

02:04We'll stay local businesses and bring in jobs and tourism to the heart of our capital.

02:09The draft is a celebration of one of our country's most cherished cultural institutions,

02:14and the annual highlights for football fans everywhere. Everyone in the world is going

02:19to be watching. We look forward to welcoming people from across the nation, from all over

02:25the world. Last month, the Washington Commanders and the D.C. government also announced a major

02:30deal to build a brand new 65,000-seat football arena at the site of the RFK Stadium in eastern

02:38Capitol Hill. And I don't think there is a better site anywhere in the world than that site.

02:43You know, he's a friend of mine. He's a very successful guy. There's a reason for it.

02:48It's amazing. It sat there for years, and people were talking about stadiums in 25 different sites.

02:54I said, they're not talking about the best site. That's the best site there is,

02:57bringing professional football back into the district from Maryland. And not only are these

03:03announcements great for the NFL, but they also advanced a mission of making Washington, D.C.

03:08safe and clean and beautiful. And we're working very closely with the mayor, as you know. And

03:14we've made a lot of improvements in the last few months. And it's getting to look really strong.

03:21Crime is way down. And a lot of there's a good relationship we have going with Muriel. So I want

03:27to thank you.