'I decided to break it...' JD Vance drops Ohio State's Championship Trophy | WATCH

Washington: Vice President JD Vance ended the Ohio State football team's White House visit on a memorable note — by fumbling the national championship trophy. After speeches by President Donald Trump, coach Ryan Day, and Vance on the South Lawn, the vice president, an Ohio State graduate, attempted to lift the trophy high for the crowd.

Unfortunately, the golden top of the trophy was designed to detach from the black base, and Vance struggled to keep hold of both pieces. As the trophy slipped, Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was standing behind Vance, managed to catch the football-shaped top. However, the base of the trophy fell to the ground, rolling a short distance before Vance managed to regain control.

Players’ reactions and Marine Corps Band's effort

The players around the vice president winced as the trophy fell, while the United States Marine Corps Band had to contend with audible gasps from the crowd as it played "We Are the Champions."

With a bit of help from Henderson and Day, Vance managed to reassemble the trophy. He later cradled just the top of the trophy in his arms as the players around him laughed.

Vice President's self-deprecation

As pictures and videos of the fumble quickly spread on social media, Vance tried to downplay the mishap with some self-deprecating humour. He wrote on X , "I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy, so I decided to break it."

Trump’s praise for Ohio State

Trump took the opportunity to praise the Ohio State team for their victory in the 2024 college football championship despite facing “adversity” — including the team’s surprising loss to unranked Michigan in November. Trump said, "I hesitate to mention OSU's fourth consecutive defeat to 'the team up north — we won’t talk about it.'"

A friendly rivalry joke

Before the fumble, Vance also made a playful remark about Ohio State's biggest rival, Michigan, during his speech. He pointed out a man in the crowd wearing a Michigan hat and joked, "I don’t know who let the guy over in the corner here, in a Michigan hat, into this celebration. But I’m about to tell the Secret Service, 'You’ve got a dangerous weapon, sir.'"

AP inputs