In an unexpected turn of events, Vice President JD Vance became the center of attention during the White House ceremony for the Ohio State Buckeyes on Monday. The team, which secured the College Football Playoff national championship in January, visited Washington to celebrate their victory with President Donald Trump and Vance, who is an alumnus of the university.
As the group prepared for a photo opportunity, Vance attempted to hoist the championship trophy aloft but struggled to maintain his hold on the prestigious award. To the shock of those present, the trophy split into two, with the pedestal base crashing to the ground. Running back TreVeyon Henderson and others showcased impressive reflexes, quickly intervening to save the ornate top portion from similar damage.
Despite several efforts to repair the trophy on-site, Vance was left to pose with just the top section for photographs. The incident briefly disrupted the celebratory mood, eliciting surprised reactions from the assembled attendees and team members.
Embracing the mishap, Vance humorously remarked on social media that he had deliberately broken the trophy to prevent subsequent teams from claiming it, a comment that quickly spread across social platforms and news outlets.
The ceremony continued with President Trump lauding Vance's academic prowess during his time at Ohio State. "He was such a good student, he didn’t stay there for four years," Trump said. "He got out in two years, No. 1 in his class. How do you do that?" The president's speech underscored Vance’s deep connections with the institution, celebrating him as a distinguished Buckeye alum.
The New York Post reported on Vance's accelerated graduation from Ohio State, where he completed his undergraduate degree in two years before attending Yale Law School. The event was also another instance of a sports team visiting the White House, following the Florida Panthers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, celebrating their respective NHL and MLB championships.
The Buckeyes' White House visit honored their College Football Playoff championship win earlier in the year, a tradition that brings together sports champions with government officials.
Vance's trophy incident comes on the heels of headlines made last month when he suggested during an interview that Vice President Kamala Harris' speech patterns might be influenced by alcohol consumption, creating additional media buzz around the vice president.
The trophy mishap and Vance's subsequent online comments highlight the sometimes-unpredictable nature of live ceremonial events and how they can capture the public's attention, often through the lens of humor and relatability.
