Trump questions NFL Paris game as mass protests stretch French police

United States President Donald Trump said the National Football League could have postponed its upcoming game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, according to Fox News, Sky Sports, and The New York Times. Fox News and Forbes both reported that Trump expressed skepticism about holding the league's first-ever game in the French capital while mass protests stretch police and security resources. [1][8][9][11]

The Daily Mail reported that a weekend event for Pittsburgh Steelers fans at a bar in the Bastille neighborhood was canceled due to security concerns following street protests. The Daily Mail and Fox News both noted that the NFL has refused to cancel or postpone the game, with league Commissioner Roger Goodell stating he had a high level of comfort regarding the event. [1][4]

Security pressures have already altered other sporting events in the region. Fox News reported that Paris police requested the postponement of a Paris Saint-Germain soccer game scheduled for the same day because civil unrest, widespread demonstrations, and the NFL game have left security forces stretched thin. [1]

The unrest follows weeks of growing tension across the country. As FTMQ News reported earlier, French authorities previously arrested more than 1,800 people during nationwide demonstrations that drew over half a million participants. French President Emmanuel Macron has banned protests in parts of Paris and blamed organized ultra-left groups for recent violent riots. [16][17]