Trump Praises Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders for Winning First Career Start: ‘Told You So!’

President Donald Trump on Monday took to Truth Social to praise Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders for winning his first career start.

The day before, the Browns took on the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards and a passing touchdown. He also threw one interception.

Sanders’s start followed weeks of public pressure on the coaching staff to make the move. After the team traded veteran QB Joe Flacco, head coach Kevin Stefanski named fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel the starter. In games that Gabriel started and finished, the Browns were 1-4 with a handful of humiliating losses. Gabriel left his sixth start with a concussion, bringing Sanders into the game against the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.

While Gabriel worked to clear concussion protocol, Sanders was named the starter against the Raiders. Despite throwing an interception, he made a number of flashy plays and even threw his first career touchdown.

Following Sanders’s start, Trump claimed he knew all along that the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders would have success.

“Shedeur Sanders was GREAT,” Trump said in the post. “Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland). Great Genes. I TOLD YOU SO!”

Trump has long been a supporter. In response Shedeur’s stunning slide in the 2025 NFL Draft, the president called team owners “stupid” for not selecting the young QB and said he was “set for greatness.”