According to the book, things went south as soon as Trump, then 37, entered the equation. After purchasing the Generals for $9 million ($23 million today), he started demanding big changes. Foremost, he wanted the season to begin in fall, to compete directly with the NFL. Says Pearlman, “He coveted his own NFL and would do anything to get one.”
One of Trump’s first moves as a USFL owner was to arrange a meeting with then-NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. “Trump told Rozelle that he would gladly ditch and ruin the USFL if it meant getting an NFL franchise,” says Pearlman of the meeting. “Trump directly attempted to conspire with the rival league against his own people.”
Rozelle responded by pledging never to let Trump into the league — and despite repeated attempts by Trump, he held to his word.