JD Vance fumbles championship trophy at White House in front of Ohio State players
JD Vance fumbles trophy at White House (Photo: Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance became the center of an awkward moment at the White House when he accidentally dropped Ohio State’s national championship trophy during a celebratory event on Monday, reports The Guardian.
As Ohio State’s football team gathered on the South Lawn to mark their national title win, Vice President Vance — himself a proud OSU alumnus — attempted to lift the championship trophy after speeches from Donald Trump and head coach Ryan Day.
Unaware that the top and base of the trophy were detachable, Vance struggled with the object before the base slipped from his grip and clattered to the ground.
Running back TreVeyon Henderson quickly caught the top half while Vance scrambled to retrieve the rolling base. The crowd gasped in surprise, and the Marine Corps Band, playing We Are the Champions, had to contend with the noise of the gaffe.
With the help of Henderson and Day, the Vice President managed to reassemble the trophy, later holding only the football-shaped top and grinning amid laughter from the team.
Vice President responds with humor as images go viral
The fumble quickly made its way across social media, prompting a lighthearted response from Vance on X:
"I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy, so I decided to break it."
The post drew chuckles from fans and critics alike.
Trophy celebrations at the White House have been a tradition for major sports champions, though some teams declined to attend during Trump’s first term.
In his current second term, however, more teams have resumed visits. Earlier this month, Trump hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers and praised Shohei Ohtani for his "movie star" looks. The Philadelphia Eagles, recent Super Bowl champions, have also accepted an invitation.
Even in a moment meant to honor champions, all eyes turned to a vice-presidential fumble that proved memorable in its own right.
