Donald Trump-Shedeur Sanders post, explained: Why U.S. president is taking credit for Browns draft selection

Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado, had a promising but not outstanding college career, having played under his father at Jackson State and then at Colorado. Despite being considered the second-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Sanders was overlooked in the first round due to concerns over his pre-draft interviews and his potential for off-field distractions. President Donald Trump publicly advocated for Sanders to be drafted via Truth Social, but his appeal initially went unheard by NFL teams. Ultimately, Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round, despite the Browns having already drafted another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, earlier. The White House humorously noted the timing of Trump's statement and Sanders' eventual draft selection, suggesting a connection between the two events without explicitly taking credit for it.

Shedeur Sanders was highly regarded as the second-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft class, but his draft stock fell due to concerns about his pre-draft interviews and potential off-field issues.

President Donald Trump voiced his support for Sanders to be selected in the draft, using his Truth Social platform to make his opinion public, although initially, this did not influence NFL teams.

Sanders had a solid career in college, playing under his father at Jackson State before transferring to Colorado, where he achieved good, though not exceptional, numbers.

The Cleveland Browns eventually drafted Sanders in the fifth round, despite having already selected another quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, earlier in the draft, creating an unprecedented short gap between two quarterbacks being drafted by the same team.

The White House Press Secretary's remarks highlighted the coincidental timing of Trump's statement and Sanders' draft selection, implying a humorous connection while acknowledging that facts alone suggest a possible influence.

The President of the United States is tasked with being the Commander in Chief and the leader of the free world. Very rarely are they consulted when it comes to the NFL Draft.

The 2025 NFL Draft was toward the end of April and one of the main storylines was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He had a solid collegiate career, starting out with his father coaching him at Jackson State and then both making the move to Colorado. The 2025 quarterback class had its own year overall, but Sanders was long considered the second-best at the position behind Miami's Cam Ward.

The Titans wasted little time selecting Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, and then it was Sanders' turn. There were quarterback-needy teams littered throughout the first round, including the Browns, Giants, Raiders, Saints and Steelers. Over the offseason, Sanders was mocked to each of these teams at different times, but when the dust of the first round settled, he hadn't heard his name called.

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Friday afternoon, ahead of the second round beginning, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social and demanded that Sanders be selected. Here's what happened.

Donald Trump-Shedeur Sanders post

Every year in the NFL Draft, a player who was consistently mocked in the first round tends to slide to the second day of the draft. It could be concern over a previous injury, an off-the-field incident or the right team just not being on the clock at the right time for that player.

Sanders had a good career in college. Unfortunately, his numbers aren't the only thing that comes with the prospect.

Since high school, Sanders has only played for his father. He had good, not great numbers for the Buffaloes, and yet his jersey number has already been retired by the school at the urging of his dad. That is unheard of. From being a mediocre prospect to having a high potential for off-the-field distractions, Sanders plummeted down draft boards.

President Trump took to Truth Social to give his thoughts on Sanders' slide.

SHEDEUR SANDERS NFL DRAFT SLIDE:

Why Donald Trump is taking credit for Shedeur Sanders draft pick

While the message went viral, NFL teams didn't listen. The second day of the draft, consisting of the second and third rounds, came and went and Sanders was still undrafted. Concerns over his pre-draft process and how he handled his interviews surfaced as reasons for his slide, as social media gave its two cents.

Finally, with the sixth pick in the fifth round (No. 144 overall) the Browns selected Sanders. This move was perplexing because Cleveland had taken Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel 50 picks prior, marking the shortest gap in NFL history that one team had drafted two quarterbacks.

On the Monday after the draft, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was given a light-hearted question about the post from the President. She was asked if the President takes credit for Sanders getting drafted and if he, Trump, thought that going to Cleveland was better than being undrafted.

Leavitt responded, saying:

"All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves."

Leavitt on Shedeur Sanders: "All I will say is the president put out a statement, and a few rounds later he was drafted, so I think the facts speak for themselves." pic.twitter.com/rAFrAbex2s
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2025