Vice President JD Vance Fumbles Championship Trophy During Ohio State’s White House Visit

JD Vance Fumbles Championship Trophy During Ohio State’s White House Visit

Vice President JD Vance brought an unexpected twist to the Ohio State football team’s celebratory White House visit on Monday when he accidentally fumbled the team’s national championship trophy.

Following speeches from President Trump, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, and Vance himself on the South Lawn, the Ohio State alumnus attempted to lift the trophy overhead. However, he didn’t realize the design featured a detachable golden football-shaped top and a black base. As he hoisted the hardware, the two parts began to separate. TreVeyon Henderson, OSU’s star running back, quickly snatched the top piece, but the base slipped free and rolled on the grass as Vance scrambled to retrieve it.

Players standing nearby visibly winced as the United States Marine Corps Band played “We Are the Champions,” momentarily overshadowed by gasps from the crowd.

With help from Henderson and Coach Day, Vance managed to reassemble the trophy. Opting for a safer approach afterward, he cradled only the top portion while sharing a laugh with the team.

As video clips of the mishap quickly went viral, Vance responded with humor on social media, writing, “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.”

President Trump used the occasion to commend the Buckeyes for their resilience in capturing the 2024 national title despite adversity, including a stunning 13-10 upset loss to unranked Michigan in November. “We won’t talk about it,” Trump said, referencing Ohio State’s fourth straight loss to their archrival.

Earlier in the event, Vance lightened the mood by playfully calling out a Michigan fan in the audience. “I don’t know who let the guy over in the corner here, in a Michigan hat, into this celebration,” he joked. “But I’m about to tell the Secret Service, ‘You’ve got a dangerous weapon, sir.’”