The NFL kicked off its season with a bang last week, attracting over 25 million viewers for the showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This impressive figure outshone a speech by President Donald Trump at the Republican midterm convention, which drew just 2.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen data released by NBC Sports.

For the fourth consecutive year, the NFL's Kickoff Game, a rematch of Super Bowl LX, averaged more than 25 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. Notably, it reached its largest audience among adults aged 18 to 49, hitting 10 million viewers in this key demographic.

In contrast, Trump's address, broadcast live by Fox News, faced challenges in attracting viewers. Reports indicated that preliminary metrics showed his 105-minute speech failed to match typical Fox News ratings, with average viewership from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET falling below that of popular shows like Hannity and Gutfeld!.

Key points from the event include:

• Trump's Speech: He promised $5,000 to each American adult if Republicans maintained their congressional majority through the 2026 midterms.
• Viewership Comparison: Trump claimed his speech outperformed the NFL, but offered no supporting data.
• Criticism: Political insiders labeled the convention a "disaster," with some GOP operatives expressing concerns about its effectiveness.

Despite Trump's claims of a packed venue, reports noted empty seats throughout the arena. The event faced scrutiny, with some commentators mocking the low viewer engagement compared to popular livestreams.

RNC spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre asserted that Trump energizes voters like no other candidate, emphasizing the convention's potential to boost Republican momentum ahead of the elections.