President Donald Trump turned the East Room of the White House into a celebration zone this week as he welcomed the Florida Gators men’s basketball team, fresh off their dramatic NCAA championship victory. The event, while honoring athletic achievement, also had the familiar flair of Trump’s trademark humor and ad-libbed commentary.
“They’re all good-looking guys,” Trump quipped, scanning the lineup of tall athletes who powered Florida to its third-ever national title. “And they’re definitely tall,” he added, before pivoting to a comment about his 6-foot-9 son, Barron. “You know, I have a son who’s 6-foot-9,” the president said, to chuckles in the room. “He always says, ‘Dad, I’m not that tall compared to some of these guys.’ And now, I understand what he’s talking about.”
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The Gators’ championship run was nothing short of remarkable, with four comeback victories during March Madness, capped by a nail-biting 65–63 win over Houston in the title game in San Antonio. Trump, ever the showman, recalled the dramatic final.
“It was looking bad,” he said, noting Houston’s 12-point lead before Florida stormed back. “Did you think you were going to win?” he asked the players, laughing. Florida only led for a total of 64 seconds in the final, most crucially, the last 46. Trump praised Alijah Martin’s nerves of steel at the free-throw line, where his late shots sealed the win. “Lesser teams would have crumbled,” Trump said.
The victory marked Florida’s third basketball crown, cementing their place in history as the only school with three NCAA titles in both football and basketball. Trump proudly highlighted that legacy, referencing the 2006 and 2007 Gators teams who visited President George W. Bush.
To commemorate the occasion, the team presented Trump with a signed basketball and a custom No. 47 jersey—a nod to his current term as the 47th President. He heaped praise on head coach Todd Golden, calling the 39-year-old “great” and joking, “Boy, would I like to be his agent.”
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Joining the celebration were several prominent Floridians, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio—who Trump called “no bigger Florida fan”—and Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody.
Also in attendance was Gators legend and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. “As a college player, maybe the best ever,” Trump said, acknowledging Tebow’s enduring popularity despite a rocky NFL career.
Since returning to the office in January, Trump has made championship visits a regular affair. Just last month, he welcomed the Ohio State Buckeyes to the Rose Garden—though the celebration hit a literal snag when Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio State alum, accidentally dropped their trophy.
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