President Donald Trump welcomed the Ohio State national football champions to the White House on Monday, praising the athletic team for their will to win and their historic victory that holds a special place in the heart of former Ohio senator and now-Vice President J.D. Vance.
In January, Ohio State Buckeyes clinched the College Football Playoff, marking nine national championship wins for the team. President Trump, true to form, seemed to have a lot of fun hosting the players in front of the White House for an outdoor event.
“This is a good-looking group behind me,” he quipped upon taking the podium.
Trump and Vance spoke on a stage just in front of the gathered team members, who appeared very excited to be standing in front of the People’s House.
The president praised Ohio State Head Football Coach Ryan Day, noting the “nine championship wins” and noting that his record was an “amazing achievement at a young age.”
Trump also invited the Ohio State football team to visit him in the Oval Office at the conclusion of the ceremony. He noted the number of Buckeye fans in his administration, especially singling out Vice President Vance. “The biggest of them all is our vice president,” he said.
Trump continued, “This team showed the world that the road to greatness is paved [with] hard work, sweat, and often a great deal of adversity.”
He lauded the players for refusing to “let the Buckeye nation down” and said they got “better and better and tougher and tougher as the season went along.”
Trump heaped specific praise on quarterback Will Howard, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and defensive end Jack Sawyer.
“The Buckeyes have defied the critics,” Trump said.
During the ceremony, the Buckeyes presented the 47th president with a personalized team jersey, along with a helmet, while the instrumental string of Queen’s “We are the champions” played live. They also posed with the championship trophy, which was hoisted high by Vice President Vance.