Trump Media debuts its first national television ad during college basketball game in Rome.(Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)
Trump Media & Technology Group will debut its first 30‑second national television advertisement on Sunday during Villanova’s historic basketball matchup against Notre Dame in Rome.
The game marks an opportunity for the company behind Truth Social to expand its reach among faith‑based communities and international audiences. Interim CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group Kevin McGurn said the company hopes to use the international spotlight to connect people across borders, bringing American perspectives to viewers overseas while introducing international voices to audiences at home.
“We want more voices talking about the things that they care about all around the world,” McGurn said.
“And you know, since I joined, it is a very big interest and push, and I think a big opportunity to have our social media business, our content business, you know, on television, exported around the world. Those messages, those voices, and then to go out and get international voices and bring them back home,” he added.
Trump Media is making its national television advertising debut during Sunday’s historic Villanova‑Notre Dame basketball game in Rome.(iStock / iStock)
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The advertisement will air during the Eternal City Tip‑Off, a historic college basketball doubleheader featuring the men’s and women’s teams from Villanova and Notre Dame.
Inspired by the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American‑born pope and a Villanova graduate, the event brings together two Catholic universities in Rome. McGurn said the intersection of athletics, faith and international exposure made the occasion particularly attractive for Trump Media’s advertising debut.
“I think the celebratory nature of the game is a perfect platform to advertise on. It’s a feel‑good story,” he said. “And obviously, you know, college basketball, it’s a big deal in the US and exporting it here to Rome and then, in partnership with the Vatican, is just an incredible way to showcase the sport.”
The decision also reflects the company’s growing investment in religious programming, which McGurn said has resonated with users on Truth Social and its streaming service, Truth+. He identified the Catholic History Channel, Catholic Stream and Catholic Herald among the company’s faith‑oriented offerings, alongside other family‑friendly entertainment.
“It’s always kind of the marriage of our audience and their community,” he said. “So the faith‑based community, and specifically the Catholic community, is very well represented on Truth Social and Truth+. And then when you extend that conversation, that brand element out into the international markets, this is a really big growth opportunity for Truth Social.”
“Obviously, we have creators and, you know, including the president, that have a message that goes around the world,” he continued.
Trump Media is making its national television advertising debut during Sunday’s historic Villanova‑Notre Dame basketball game in Rome.(iStock / iStock)
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The advertisement will air during the Eternal City Tip‑Off, a historic college basketball doubleheader featuring the men’s and women’s teams from Villanova and Notre Dame.
Inspired by the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American‑born pope and a Villanova graduate, the event brings together two Catholic universities in Rome. McGurn said the intersection of athletics, faith and international exposure made the occasion particularly attractive for Trump Media’s advertising debut.
“I think the celebratory nature of the game is a perfect platform to advertise on. It’s a feel‑good story,” he said. “And obviously, you know, college basketball, it’s a big deal in the US and exporting it here to Rome and then, in partnership with the Vatican, is just an incredible way to showcase the sport.”
The decision also reflects the company’s growing investment in religious programming, which McGurn said has resonated with users on Truth Social and its streaming service, Truth+. He identified the Catholic History Channel, Catholic Stream and Catholic Herald among the company’s faith‑oriented offerings, alongside other family‑friendly entertainment.
“It’s always kind of the marriage of our audience and their community,” he said. “So the faith‑based community, and specifically the Catholic community, is very well represented on Truth Social and Truth+. And then when you extend that conversation, that brand element out into the international markets, this is a really big growth opportunity for Truth Social.”
“Obviously, we have creators and, you know, including the president, that have a message that goes around the world,” he continued.
Pope Leo XIV’s election inspired a historic college basketball showdown between Villanova and Notre Dame in Rome, where Trump Media will debut its first national television advertisement.(REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane / Reuters)
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McGurn said the company’s content strategy begins with conversations taking place among Truth Social users, which help guide the television programming and on‑demand content it licenses for Truth+. He said the streaming platform offers more than 50 channels covering conservative news, faith‑based programming, movies, television and sports, reflecting an effort to build an entertainment destination beyond politics.
“I mean, there’s a tremendous amount of content on the service for movies and television shows. So we have a really big entertainment focus,” he said.
The initiative comes as the company seeks to grow its international presence and attract additional creators to its platforms. McGurn previously discussed those ambitions during an October interview with Axios, saying Trump Media was actively recruiting creators and expanding distribution outside the United States.
Interim CEO Kevin McGurn said the event presents a major opportunity to expand Truth Social’s global reach.
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Sunday’s game also follows growing attention surrounding Villanova’s relationship with Pope Leo XIV.
The university reported that applications rose more than 10% during the first admission cycle after the pontiff’s 2025 election. Pope Leo welcomed players, coaches and supporters from both universities during a Saturday audience at the Vatican attended by approximately 7,000 people.
The men’s game will tip off at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX, followed by the women’s matchup at noon ET on FS1. Both games will take place at Rome’s Palazzo dello Sport.
McGurn said Trump Media previously participated in sports sponsorships, but Sunday’s broadcast represents its first 30‑second national television commercial.
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“You know, I think this is something that is historic and, you know, we represent conversation that it’s historic every single day. So this is a good spot for us,” McGurn said.