President Donald Trump Speaks With 12 Major US Sports Commissioners About Coronavirus

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – United States President Donald J. Trump spoke with 12 major sports commissioners in the U.S. “to discuss the all-of-America response to COVID-19.”

President Trump spoke with the commissioners via a conference call on Saturday, April 4.

In addition to President Trump and two of his assistants, the following commissioners joined the coronavirus disease-related call:

• Gary Bettman (National Hockey League)
• Cathy Engelbert (Women’s National Basketball Association)
• Don Garber (Major League Soccer)
• Roger Goodell (National Football League)
• Rob Manfred (Major League Baseball)
• Vince McMahon (World Wrestling Entertainment)
• Jay Monahan (PGA Tour)
• Adam Silver (National Basketball Association)
• Dana White (Ultimate Fighting Championship)
• Roger Penske (IndyCar)
• Michael Whan (LPGA Tour)
• Drew Fleming (Breeder’s Cup)

Pool report from today’s call between @POTUS and 12 Major U.S. sports commissioners. @kslsports https://t.co/nsf8nFCc78 pic.twitter.com/cSuQcqu0Pz

— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) April 4, 2020

The pool report for the call said that “the President recognized the good work being done by many teams and players to care for their communities, workforces, and fan bases across the Nation. The commissioners thanked President Trump for his national leadership and for his interest in the sports industry. President Trump encouraged them to continue to support their fellow Americans during this challenging time.”

During the call, President Trump said that he believes the NFL season should start on time in September, according to an ESPN source.

In conference call with major league sports commissioners on Saturday, President Donald Trump said he believes the NFL season should start on time in September, sources familiar with the call told @wojespn and me. More on call coming at https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2020

The source also said that “NBA commissioner Adam Silver told those on the call that the sports leagues were the first to shut down and that they would love to lead the way in starting the economy once there was an ‘all clear’ from public health officials.”

Following the conference call, President Trump said, “They want to get back. They’ve got to get back. We want to get back soon. Very soon.”

Trump says of conference call with commissioners: "They want to get back. They've got to get back. We want to get back soon. Very soon."

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) April 4, 2020

The NBA was the first major sports league to suspend play. It halted the 2019-20 season following Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID-19 on March 11.

Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing [email protected].
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at [email protected].