Vice President JD Vance had a clumsy moment at the White House while honoring the Ohio State University football team for their 2025 National Championship win. As the team posed for photos, Vance appeared to suggest he should lift the championship trophy. But when he picked it up, the gold top and black base separated. Vance scrambled to catch the pieces, momentarily fumbling.
Thankfully, players TreVeyon Henderson and Cody Simon jumped in quickly. Both managed to grab the parts of the trophy before they hit the ground. Vance, an Ohio State alum, held just the gold top while posing with the team for photos.
Afterward, Vance took to X to joke about the mishap. “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it,” he wrote. Commenters pointed out that the trophy wasn’t actually broken — the top had simply detached from its removable base.
Vance also had a little fun with a guest wearing a University of Michigan hat. “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,” he said.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were being honored for their 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the National Championship game. They were the first team to win under the new 12-team playoff format. The event brought together players, staff, and White House officials to celebrate the milestone victory.
The team presented President Donald Trump with a custom Ohio State jersey featuring his name and the number 47. The number marked his current position as the 47th president of the United States. The title game took place on January 20, 2025 — the same day Trump was inaugurated for his second term.
“It turns out January 20 was a big day for all of us,” Trump said.