Donald Trump
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One of the biggest and most bizarre stories of the week has been United States President Donald Trump’s decision to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America amid a trade war with Canada. This move led to longtime NFL broadcaster Al Michaels mocking Trump during the broadcast of a preseason game, which has apparently sparked criticism from Trump’s supporters.
Amidst claims that some MAGA supporters are planning to boycott the NFL as a result of Michaels’ criticism, a longtime New York Times reporter, author, and media analyst has weighed in, calling out Trump’s supporters as “psychologically disturbed.”
Michaels Mocks Trump
During Thursday night’s broadcast of the preseason showdown between the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots in Cleveland, the camera showed a shot of Lake Erie, which borders Cleveland. Michaels used the shot as an opportunity to poke fun at Trump after his recent decision to rename Lake Ontario.
“That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie. We’re not quite sure at this point,” Michaels said. “But we’ll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it’s going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo (for Week 1).”
“Anyway, you know what I’m talking about,” Michaels said with a laugh. “Some of you do. Read the news.”
Trump Fans Planning ‘Boycott’
While most saw the comments as a lighthearted jab at Trump’s latest move, it sounds like some of Trump’s supporters have taken it as more of a personal attack.
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According to Brian Allen, who founded the political news and commentary platform The Allen Analysis, Trump supporters are now threatening to boycott the league after these comments from Michaels.
“Trump supporters are threatening to boycott the NFL after Al Michaels mocked Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario during a preseason broadcast,” Allen wrote in a post on X.
It’s worth noting that Allen did not share any examples of Trump supporters threatening to boycott the NFL, so it’s not clear where these threats are being made – whether it’s on social media or elsewhere.
‘Miserable way to live’
Following Allen’s report, longtime New York Times media reporter and published author Bill Carter took to social media to criticize the Trump supporters who are planning to boycott the NFL, calling them “psychologically disturbed” and referring to Trump as a “psycho narcissist.”
“All of MAGA world is psychologically disturbed. They live their lives desperate for opportunities to be offended, aggrieved, outraged. Guy makes aside abt Trump silliness : boycott the NFL! They idolize a psycho narcissist. Hostility is their only joy. Miserable way to live,” Carter wrote in a post on X.
Carter reported on the television industry for the New York Times for over 25 years and now serves as a media analyst for CNN. He has also had four books published, including The War for Late Night and The Late Shift.