Nick Saban’s Surprising Choice on Whether to Join President Trump Sparks Buzz—Find Out What Changed His Mind

So here’s a fun twist for your Thursday night plans: President Trump is heading back to the University of Alabama to deliver what’s being billed as a “historic” commencement speech — but the real question on everyone’s lips might just be this: will the legendary Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide guru who, let’s face it, could probably herd cats better than most coaches manage an offense, be sharing the stage with him? Spoiler alert — yes, he will. The retiring football icon, who went 201-29 in his Alabama tenure and racked up six national titles, is set to join Trump inside Coleman Coliseum, bringing a star power combo that could melt even the March heat in Tuscaloosa. It’s a rare moment where politics, sports royalty, and seasonal nostalgia collide — and for a program that’s seen its fair share of ups and downs lately, seeing Saban back on campus might just give the fans one more reason to smile. Curiosity piqued? You’re not alone. LEARN MORE.

President Trump is planning on attending the University of Alabama commencement address on Thursday. But will the university’s most popular person, former head coach Nick Saban, be joining him up on the stage?

The answer appears to be yes. According to WVTM, Saban is slated to be in attendance for the president’s upcoming speech at the Coleman Coliseum. Per the report, Saban will be speaking at the event, as will former Alabama president Stuart R. Bell.

“President Donald Trump is preparing for his third visit to the University of Alabama on Thursday, but he’s not the only big name returning to the Capstone this week,” Riley Conlon wrote for the outlet.

“Trump is set to deliver a historic speech ahead of the University of Alabama’s 2025 commencement ceremonies, and we now know that he’ll be joined by former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.”

BREAKING: Nick Saban will join Donald Trump as he gives a commencement address to the university’s graduating class of 2025.

The event is scheduled to take place Thursday at the University of Alabama at 6:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum.

📷 https://t.co/TPyCZBERr4 pic.twitter.com/DxO4vtQooU

— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) April 30, 2025

Trump has some experience attending big events at the University of Alabama. During his first term in office and even in-between his terms, he attended a number of his-profile games during Coach Saban’s tenure. 

This past season he attended the big Alabama-Georgia game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which saw Alabama defeat the Bulldogs in one of the most thrilling finishes of the entire season.

Trump has been a regular at SEC football games for nearly a decade now. He’s been passionate about football as a sport for decades and has tried on multiple occasions to be a sports franchise owner.

Nick Saban retired after the 2023 college football season but has remained an ever-present figure in college football thanks to his work with ESPN College GameDay. During his 17-year run with the Crimson Tide, Saban went 201-29 and went 13 straight years with two losses or fewer. He won six national titles, with two of those title wins coming in undefeated seasons.

Later this year, Saban is going to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame alongside such legends as Urban Meyer, Michael Vick, Michael Strahan, Dennis Thurman and Montee Ball. 

2024 wasn’t the best of years for Alabama football, but seeing Saban in Tuscaloosa will bring a smile to even the most dour Crimson Tide face.

Related: President Trump Called Nick Saban ‘Lou’ During Conference Call Tonight