In a mishap at the White House on Monday, Vice President J.D. Vance let slip the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy while hosting Ohio State University, his former educational institution.
As the students grimaced at President Donald Trump’s controversial sexual remarks, their Vice President landed himself in a faux pas right under the international media’s watchful eye and amidst the gathered players on the White House grounds. This event trails Vance’s contentious statements about China and a gaffe during his recent Greenland trip.
The rose garden debacle unfolded as senior running back TreVeyon Henderson, commended for his three-time All-Big Ten recognition, attempted to pass the trophy to Vance. Onlooking was Trump, stood center stage brandishing the Buckeye football helmet, who exhibited dismay amid the unfolding scene.
Disaster struck when the trophy came apart, leaving Henderson holding its top section, while a surprised Vance hurried to gather the base portion. The Ohio State squad’s gaze swiftly shifted towards Trump, anticipating his response.
By some miracle, the trophy did not suffer any damage. Vance brushed off the mishap, deciding to proceed with only the top segment of the trophy in hand, reports The Mirror US.
Live coverage by NewsNation captured the blunder, with the anchor pointing out the error: “Let’s just take this shot full for a moment and see what happens there, and oh, what did the Vice President drop over there? Did he drop the trophy?”.
“Oh, come on, Mr. Vice President! Just as we’re going to it live, JD Vance, who’s an Ohio State graduate himself by the way, class of ’09….never a dull moment… give the trophy back, Vice President, so you don’t drop it [again].”
This isn’t the first time a trophy has taken a tumble in recent sports history, nor is it the most catastrophic. Recall when former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos accidentally dropped the 2011 Copa del Rey trophy from the top of a bus during their victory parade?
Ohio State defied the odds by securing the national title, despite entering the college football playoff ranked eighth in a field packed with formidable rivals.
The Buckeyes thrashed No. 9 Tennessee 42-17 in the opening round, followed by a decisive 41-21 victory over No.1 Oregon in the quarterfinals (also known as the Rose Bowl), where standout receiver Jeremiah Love amassed 187 yards.
In the semifinals, Ohio State narrowly edged out No. 5 Texas 28-14, setting the stage for their ultimate victory over No.7 Notre Dame with a score of 34-23, clinching the program’s first national championship in a decade.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. forecasts that quarterback Will Howard, who was involved in the notorious trophy drop, will be picked 41st overall by the Chicago Bears in the early stages of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.