Donald Trump faces heat on social media for trying to take credit for the Browns drafting Shedeur Sanders – “People are (rightfully) dunking on the lack of ball knowledge”

USA Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that Donald Trump's tweet urging NFL teams to draft Shedeur Sanders was the reason behind the Cleveland Browns selecting him in the fifth round.

Donald Trump faces heat on social media for trying to take credit for the Browns drafting Shedeur Sanders – “People are (rightfully) dunking on the lack of ball knowledge”

Shedeur Sanders and Donald Trump (Image via IMAGO)

Shedeur Sanders was in a free fall during the 2025 NFL Draft. Once projected to go first overall, he was passed on in the first round. Donald Trump witnessed the 23-year-old’s day-one slide and gave the 32 NFL teams a push.

Trump tweeted, urging the NFL teams to select Sanders quickly. The Cleveland Browns obliged and drafted the former Colorado quarterback 144th overall.

At a recent press conference, one reporter asked the USA Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether the President of the United States of America had a hand in the Browns drafting Shedeur Sanders.

All I will say is the president [Donald Trump] put out a statement, and a few rounds later he [Shedeur Sanders] was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves.

Karoline Leavitt replied

Fans on social media aren’t sold on Donald Trump’s role in Shedeur Sanders being drafted by the Browns

It was a rough couple of days for the Sanders family. Deion Sanders couldn’t believe his eyes that teams didn’t want his son, the 2024 FBS pass completion (74%) leader. Stephen A. Smith blamed Coach Prime for his son slipping out of the first round.

Donald Trump faces heat on social media for trying to take credit for the Browns drafting Shedeur Sanders "peak 'we have no idea about sports' sports talk"
Shedeur Sanders (Image via IMAGO)

Trump tweeted, and the Browns took Sanders. So, by that account, the 78-year-old deserves credit for ending Sanders’ misery. But did it actually happen?

Football fans and political critics slammed the White House Press Secretary for making a confusing statement. It’s a fact that Sanders was drafted after Trump’s tweet, but he posted his thoughts at the end of day one. It took the Browns more than 35 hours to comply with his words.

Some argued that Sanders wasn’t even on their shopping list. If Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry truly wanted Sanders, they wouldn’t have drafted Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round, 94th overall.

People are still searching for the main individual behind the Browns’ sudden change of heart about Sanders. Reporters asked Berry to walk them through the reasons behind the AFC North club drafting the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner.

We live by our board. We felt like he was a good, solid prospect at the most important position. We felt like it got to a point where he was probably mispriced relative to the relative. The acquisition cost was pretty light, and it’s a guy that we think can outproduce his draft slot.

Andrew Berry said

Shedeur now finds himself in a loaded quarterback room. He will compete with Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and Gabriel for a place in the final 53-man roster.

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