President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE has yet to confirm his participation this year in a tradition: The pre-game interview with the network hosting the Super Bowl.

A person familiar with the White House's negotiations with NBC News says the Trump administration has indicated to NBC the president will not take part in the interview this year, according to a Friday report from Variety.

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Trump gave an interview to Fox News before the Super Bowl last year, and his predecessor former President Obama appeared for live, pre-game interviews with CBS's Gayle King and NBC's "Meet the Press" during his presidency. Obama was also interviewed by Fox News's Bill O'Reilly in a pre-taped interview.

NBC's invitation to Trump for an interview, live or pre-taped, remains open, Variety's source added. An official spokesperson for the network declined to comment to Variety.

If Trump does not participate, it will likely be due to his ongoing feud with the NFL. A refusal would follow months of the president sharply criticizing team owners for refusing to fire players who protest during the national anthem.

Trump's remarks calling for NFL players to be fired in September sparked a new wave of protests across the NFL, with dozens of players across several teams participating in the protest, originally started by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The president also has criticized NBC News in the past, and in October ripped the news network on Twitter after it published a report claiming Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE called him a "moron."

"NBC news is #FakeNews and more dishonest than even CNN. They are a disgrace to good reporting. No wonder their news ratings are way down!" Trump tweeted last year.

This year's Super Bowl will be held on Feb. 4 in Minneapolis, Minn.