Follow-Up: Trump Says NFL Could Have Postponed Paris Game as France Braces for Protests
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn on Oct. 23, before boarding Marine One, that the NFL "could have probably postponed" the upcoming game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints because of street protests in the city. The game, set for Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of the capital, is the first NFL regular-season game in France. (GSM, via the Associated Press)
"I think maybe it's looking like tomorrow is going to be a bad day in France, so you worry about it," Trump said. "I would have said the NFL could have probably postponed that match … because France is really in trouble." France is bracing for more demonstrations on Saturday against the high cost of living, with museums closing and the government deploying a larger security presence to prevent a repeat of last week's violent unrest.
The U.S. State Department issued a security alert late Thursday saying numerous groups had submitted plans for protests on Saturday, Oct. 24, and that Americans in Paris for the NFL game on Sunday, Oct. 25 should also exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings. While permits may be filed for demonstration routes, the alert said, last-minute changes can happen and protests can occur outside planned routes.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities and that street protests "are not unusual in France." The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's remarks. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Friday at the team's hotel in Paris that "the NFL is alert to what's going on," adding, "This game means a lot to the NFL. If it was unsafe, then I'm sure we wouldn't be here." A weekend event for Steelers fans was canceled Thursday because of security concerns. Separately, the French soccer league said Paris Saint-Germain's game against Lyon has been moved from Sunday to Monday evening at the Parc des Princes at the request of Paris police.
GSM reported on Oct. 20 that the NFL had confirmed the Paris game would go ahead as scheduled with upgraded security. Trump's remarks are the latest development; the game remains scheduled for Sunday.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Saint-Denis 的 Stade de France 外观，本周日 NFL 法国首场常规赛将在此举行。Photo: The Stade de France in Saint-Denis, site of Sunday's first NFL regular-season game in France. Guilhem Vellut via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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