Training camp season usually brings talk of playbooks, rookies, and preseason prep—but this week, things got political at the Baltimore Ravens’ facility.
Head coach John Harbaugh found himself at the center of a media moment—not because of his team, but because of his recent visit to the White House alongside his brother, Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Their meeting with Donald Trump earlier this month drew attention, not just for the visit itself, but because of Trump’s past comments about Baltimore.
Harbaugh Pushes Back on Framing of Trump Question
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Harbaugh was asked why he met with Trump, especially considering the former president’s 2019 remarks calling Baltimore a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.”
That framing didn’t sit well with the coach.
Rather than taking the bait, Harbaugh rephrased the question himself:
“You got a chance to go visit with the president, man.
What was that experience like?”
He didn’t hesitate to answer his own version:
“It was amazing. It was awesome.”
Meeting Trump and Supporting the Presidency
John Harbaugh didn’t dive into political commentary, but made it clear that he supports the position of President—regardless of who holds it.
“I promise you I root for our president,” he said.
“I want our president to be successful just like I want my quarterback to be successful and I want my team to be successful.”
This wasn’t Harbaugh’s first time at the White House either.
He’s met with four presidents, including Barack Obama after the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2013 and Joe Biden when he was vice president during a visit to Iraq.
A Family Affair With Presidential Connections
As it turns out, the Harbaugh brothers have quite a presidential résumé between them.
“He’s got seven [presidential meetings], I got four,” John admitted.
He recalled meeting President Reagan during a family trip when Jim was a Heisman Trophy candidate, and he even has a photo from that moment framed in his office.
Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh Shares More from the Oval Office
Jim Harbaugh also opened up about the meeting with Trump, which took place earlier in July.
According to him, the conversation went long—not because of delays, but because Trump was engaged and in no rush to leave.
“You could tell he wasn’t going to be the first to leave,” Jim said.
“I’m sure he wanted to go get dinner or something.”
The former president even asked about Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, which led Jim to remark that Trump seemed very knowledgeable about football and sports in general.
Tech and Trade Giants Joined the Meeting
This wasn’t just a photo op between coaches and the president.
Also present in the Oval Office were some major players from tech and commerce, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer, and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.
Huang’s appearance at the meeting is notable—his company recently hit a $4 trillion market cap, and he’s now seen as a major proponent of U.S. AI leadership, giving Trump some credit for that progress.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Under the Microscope
Howard Lutnick’s presence, however, wasn’t without controversy.
He’s become a central figure in Trump’s push for lower interest rates and has clashed with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
He’s also had to clarify past links to Jeffrey Epstein, stating that he had “no personal relationship, contact, or direct dealings” with the disgraced financier—despite prior real estate connections.
The Bigger Picture
While critics focused on Trump’s past words about Baltimore, Harbaugh kept the spotlight on what the Oval Office visit meant to him personally.
He steered clear of partisan talking points and instead emphasized unity, respect for leadership, and the rare opportunity to step inside one of the most powerful rooms in the world.
“It was an amazing experience,” he repeated.
And judging by the photos, football and politics make for some very unexpected huddles.