On Tuesday, the members of the Ohio State football team that won last year’s national championship took their victory lap at the White House. The last-minute surprise twist came when United States Senator JD Vance dropped the coveted golden shovel. This moment came just as Vice President Kamala Harris was wrapping up the proceedings, eliciting audible gasps from players and fans on-site per this video.
On the trip, Vance accepted the trophy. This longstanding tradition recognizes the teams that have won national, Olympic, or Euro championships. In doing so, he proved, at least once, that he is not the steadiest set of hands. As he fumbled with the trophy and tried to go for it all, the trophy slipped out of his hands. That football-shaped top part of the trophy became an object of concern when it split in half. Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson caught the football-shaped top just in time. Simultaneously, Vance rushed in pursuit of the base as it bounced off the ground and continued to roll.
The United States Marine Corps Band played “We Are the Champions” in the background, creating a stark contrast to the mishap occurring on stage. Photos and videos flooded the scene and went viral on Twitter and Instagram over the ensuing minutes. Audiences responded with confusion as well as laughter.
In a bizarre but amusing attempt to play off the gravity of the situation, Vance went on X (formerly Twitter) to self-deprecatingly detail the hoax. He wrote, “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.” His comedic spin on the debacle struck the right chord with fans. As a political symbol, his supporters argued that was better used than being destroyed by someone else.
Historically, teams that have won championships are invited to the White House for a celebration of their achievements with the president. The event serves as a celebration of the best in athletic achievement. Just as important, though, is that it brings everyone to the table and keeps and inspires them there. Notably, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors were not invited during Donald Trump’s first term, and the United States women’s national team did not receive an invitation following their victory at the 2019 Women’s World Cup.