The final week of the preseason is underway, as teams get in some invaluable reps before the 2026 regular season begins. But before the New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns game kicked off, the focus turned to the broadcasting booth.
Veteran announcer Al Michaels took a direct shot at President Donald Trump, which instantly caught everyone’s attention.
Al Michaels Uses Subtlety Against President Donald Trump
A legendary career has seen Al Michaels serve on network sports television since 1971. With over half a century of experience, he has been the voice behind some of the most iconic moments in sports history.
Since 2022, though, he has been exclusively involved as the play-by-play sportscaster of Thursday Night Football. This week, he was back in the familiar booth, but he also took the time to speak on some recent political events.
“That is Lake Erie. We think it is still called Lake Erie on the right,” he commented as the feed cut to a view of the new stadium built in Buffalo.
“We’re not quite sure at this point. But we’ll be by Lake something like Ontario or whatever it’s going to be called by the time we get to Buffalo. Anyway, you know what I’m talking about. Read the news,” Michaels said.
His comment came after Trump tried to have Lake Ontario renamed to Lake America just a year after doing the same for the Gulf of Mexico. The pointed shot was hard to miss, with Tanner Phifer catching the reference.
Al Michaels takes a shot at President Trump for renaming lakes…👀 #trump #Almichaels #NFL #NFLnews pic.twitter.com/kQaFOdQmM4
— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhifer) August 28, 2026
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Others followed suit, as one fan was left stunned. “Not Al Michaels [expletive] on Donald J Trump on Thursday Night Football,” they wrote.
The approval for the messaging was widespread, as one fan added, “Al Michaels with a shot at Trump. Love it.” Another fan joked, “Ok, Al Michaels is laughing at Trump, glad to see he hasn’t lost his mind.”
Al Michaels taking pot shots at Trump lmfao
— Chase (@chasekr8) August 28, 2026
A New England resident, Tony Branco, also noticed the comment, recapping, “Al Michaels taking an unveiled shot at Trump during the Patriots game on Amazon, ‘We are looking at Lake Erie. At least, I think it is still called Lake Erie.'”
One fan loved it so much he even called it the “quote of the night.” Expanding, he wrote, “Quote of the night from Al Michaels as they are showing the new Buffalo Bills stadium. Al: There is Lake Erie. If it’s still called ‘Lake Erie.’ Who knows what it will be called when we broadcast. You know what I’m talking about.”
Al Michaels is the best. https://t.co/EOaGUh5IEp
— Matthew Harding 😷 (@Matt_Harding) August 28, 2026
Others were also impressed, as one fan claimed, “Al Michaels is the best,” while Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation immediately reacted, “The man still has as good a fastball as anyone in broadcasting.”
The man still has as good a fastball as anyone in broadcasting https://t.co/bAKEVlDJyx
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) August 28, 2026
It remains to be seen if Michaels’ comment lands him in any kind of trouble.
