(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)In the past, several famous athletes have snubbed President Donald Trump by declining to visit the White House after they were invited. But not Clemson Tigers Quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He had a much different reaction after spending Monday evening in Washington with the president.
On Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed the Clemson Tigers to the White House to celebrate their win against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship game. Trump offered an “all-American” menu for the football players, serving up a full fast-food meal on silver platters which he paid for himself since much of the White House kitchen staff was furloughed.
“The President wanted to host a fun event to celebrate the College Football National Champion Clemson Tigers,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. “Because the Democrats refuse to negotiate on border security, much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed – so the President is personally paying for the event to be catered with some of everyone’s favorite fast foods.”
White House says President Trump "is personally paying for” event with National Champions Clemson tonight "to be catered with some of everyone’s favorite fast foods,” because "much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed” due to the ongoing government shutdown. pic.twitter.com/abr5wFrc1I
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 14, 2019
“If it’s American, I like it. It’s all American stuff,” Trump said of the various fast food items he had laid out for the Clemson players on Monday. “We have pizzas, we have 300 hamburgers, many, many french fries, all of our favorite foods.”
While this may not have been their nutritionist’s first choice, the football players had a ball dining on cheeseburgers and french fries with the president. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, in particular, told TMZ that he had an “awesome” time and couldn’t wait to go back.
In the past, left-leaning athletes have refused to set aside petty partisan politics in order to visit Trump’s White House. In 2017, when the president invited several NCAA champions to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, some of the teams decided not to attend, including University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team and the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team:
The University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball team was among the teams to win a 2017 NCAA championship but decline the president’s invitation. Head coach Dawn Staley released a statement on Thursday saying, “We did hear from the White House about attending tomorrow’s event, but we will not be able to attend … As I’ve been saying since our practices for this season started, all of our focus is on the season ahead. The only invitation we are thinking about is to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.”
Another NCAA championship team, the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team did not attend citing scheduling conflicts. Also, Trump hosted the Clemson Tigers, the winners of the 2016 NCAA football championship, at the White House in June.
Earlier this year, the Golden State Warriors rejected an invitation the the White House and President Trump uninvited Stephen Curry to the White House and said the invitation given to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been rescinded after the NBA player said he did not want to join his championship-winning team’s visit to the White House. [Source: Washington Examiner]
But you won’t find Trevor Lawrence complaining. “It was awesome,” he said while taking pictures with Clemson fans after meeting with Trump. “We had McDonald’s and everything. It was good!”
Then, when a fan asked Lawrence how many times he plans on returning to the White House, he replied, “Hopefully, a few more!”
This is a great image of how big and imposing Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence is compared to other people.
Donald Trump is 6'3" and Lawrence absolutely towers over him when they're next to each other. That's the size that has NFL owners, general managers and coaches going crazy. pic.twitter.com/ZXTEfa8FeJ
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) January 15, 2019
It certainly is nice to see such a well-mannered, talented young man with so much respect for the president. We don’t know Trevor Lawrence’s personal views when it comes to politics, and we shouldn’t have to. Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, you should be thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet with the president at the White House, just like Lawrence was.
