US Politics
Trump insists star NFL draft pick is a huge fan despite skipping White House event
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President Trump claims that Fernando Mendoza, the recent number one NFL draft pick, is a “big fan” of the Trump administration, even though the quarterback did not join his former Indiana University teammates visiting the White House on Monday to celebrate their national championship.
Mendoza, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders first overall, even called the president to apologize, Trump said.
“He was so nice,” Trump said. “He called because actually…(he’s) a big fan of ours. You wouldn’t believe it because he didn’t show up. I’m not happy, but that’s OK. The reason he didn’t is because he’s at spring training, right?”
“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders and let’s see how good a team they have,” Trump added. “I think he’s going to do great. He’s a winner.”
The Independent has contacted Mendoza for comment.
The Raiders confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Mendoza was at the team’s facility in Henderson on Monday for preseason preparations.
The Heisman Trophy-winner himself acknowledged earlier that he wouldn’t be able to join the victory tour at the White House because of Raiders obligations.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” he told reporters last week. “I’ve got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
As The Athletic notes, multiple Hoosiers missed the White House visit because of NFL obligations on Monday.
Indiana sent a program-record eight players to the league this year, and Mendoza is one of four members of the national championship Indiana squad now with the Raiders.
Trump previously encountered Mendoza at the national championship game in January, where the quarterback led the undefeated Hoosiers to win Indiana’s first national championship in program history.
At the game, Trump was greeted with a thunderous reception.
Raiders fans are hoping Mendoza can bring some of the same magic he showed in that 27-to-21 win to the Raiders franchise, which hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl since 2003.