What started as a proud moment at the White House turned into an unexpected scene when Vice President JD Vance accidentally dropped Ohio State’s national championship trophy.
The Buckeyes were being honored for their thrilling title win over Notre Dame in January—but a bit of clumsiness from an enthusiastic alum gave the ceremony a twist no one saw coming.
Proud Alum Turns Clumsy Host
Vance, who graduated from Ohio State back in 2009, was clearly hyped to welcome his alma mater to Washington, D.C.
He stood next to President Trump during the celebration and tried to raise the shiny trophy for a photo moment.
But instead of cheers, gasps filled the air as the top of the trophy detached and clattered to the ground.
The vice president scrambled to pick it up while running back TreVeyon Henderson leaned in to assist.
In the end, Vance just held up the top piece while the base sat awkwardly on a nearby table—definitely not how he imagined the moment going.
Trump Grimaces, The Internet Reacts
President Trump, who stood close by holding a Buckeyes helmet, didn’t hide his reaction.
A visible grimace crept across his face as the trophy mishap unfolded.
Meanwhile, social media lit up almost instantly.
Critics of the Trump administration seized the moment, turning Vance’s fumble into political commentary.
One user posted, “Everything this administration touches turns to s***e,” while another called the moment “symbolic,” saying, “Everything with Trump on it falls apart.”
Another user took it a step further, tweeting, “Breaking the trophy just like Trump’s regime is breaking the country.”
Vance Tries to Laugh It Off
Trying to save face, Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) and poked fun at himself.
“I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it,” he joked.
But the awkward moments didn’t end there.
Trump Mixes Up His Quarterbacks
During his own remarks, Trump made a minor gaffe of his own.
While praising the Buckeyes’ performance in the College Football Playoff, he mistakenly referred to former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard as “Tennessee quarterback Will Howard.” Not exactly a big deal, but enough to raise a few eyebrows.
A Bit of Rivalry Banter
Adding to the light-hearted chaos, Vance spotted someone in the crowd wearing a Michigan hat—the ultimate sin at a Buckeyes celebration.
Never missing a chance for some rivalry fun, Vance cracked, “I’m about to tell the Secret Service you’ve got a dangerous weapon, sir,” as the crowd chuckled.
He closed his remarks on a more serious note, thanking President Trump and the people of Ohio.
“Proud of this team… God bless you guys,” he said.
Bigger Issues Behind the Scenes
While the event was mostly celebratory (trophy drama aside), it comes at a tense time for the Trump administration.
The White House is currently facing major scrutiny over the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old father of three who was legally living in the U.S. but was wrongfully sent to a harsh prison in El Salvador.
Trump’s team initially chalked it up to an “administrative error” but later claimed Garcia had MS-13 ties—a move that has sparked major backlash.
Economic Turbulence on Top of the Chaos
On top of that, Trump’s recent global tariffs have triggered a market dip, causing economic uncertainty.
After public pressure, he paused the rollout of “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days.
So while the trophy incident may have been a light-hearted blunder, it happened during a week full of political and economic tension—and for critics, it only added fuel to the fire.