Sports, Brand America and U.S. public diplomacy during the presidency of Donald Trump

During Donald Trump’s chaotic presidency, the intersections between sports and society transcended from the American context into a global one. While Trump’s rhetoric and policies caused divisions in the United States and abroad, they also provoked counter-reactions from different stakeholders in American sports that led to long-overdue needed structural change and even diplomatic achievement when bidding for international events. The article explores, discusses, and analyzes the roles of sports in Brand America and in U.S. public diplomacy during Trump’s time in the White House. The article is significant as it furthers the discussion on future trends in sports, nation branding, public diplomacy, and country image, and on the place of the United States in the international system of a changing world.