Vice President JD Vance Fumbles Ohio State Football Team’s Championship Trophy at the White House
In an unexpected turn of events on Monday, Vice President JD Vance dropped the national championship trophy awarded to the Ohio State football team during their visit to the White House. The incident occurred after a series of celebratory speeches on the South Lawn, which included remarks from President Donald Trump and OSU head coach Ryan Day.
The Trophy Incident
As the Ohio State graduate prepared to raise the trophy high, he struggled with its gold and black design, which features a top that separates from its base. While attempting to hoist the trophy, Vance lost his grip, resulting in the base rolling away and the top being caught by OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson. The scene drew audible gasps from onlookers, particularly from the players present, as the United States Marine Corps Band played “We Are the Champions.”
Reactions and Recovery
Following the fumble, Henderson and Coach Day assisted Vance in restoring the trophy to its complete form. Vance then humorously held only the top of the trophy, which he cradled in his arms amid laughter from the surrounding players.
Vance’s Self-Deprecation
As footage of the incident spread across social media, Vice President Vance leveraged humor to address the blunder, joking on X (formerly Twitter): “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.”
Trump’s Remarks
In his address, President Trump commended the Ohio State team for their resilience, particularly in light of their unexpected loss to unranked Michigan later in the season. He acknowledged the team’s triumph in the 2024 college football championship, despite the challenges faced throughout the year, while lightly skirting around the four consecutive defeats to their rival team, Michigan, by stating, “We won’t talk about it.”
Rivalry Highlight
Vance also mentioned Ohio State’s rivalry with Michigan during his speech, drawing attention to a guest wearing a Michigan hat. He humorously remarked, “I don’t know who let the guy over in the corner here, in a Michigan hat, into this celebration. But I’m about to tell the Secret Service, ‘You’ve got a dangerous weapon, sir.’”
Despite the mishap with the trophy, the visit celebrated Ohio State’s achievements and showcased the spirited camaraderie among players, coaches, and officials alike.
