Vice President J.D. Vance’s proud Ohio State moment turned into an awkward spectacle that no one saw coming.
The 35-pound trophy suddenly separated during what should have been a perfect photo opportunity.
And J.D. Vance stunned Ohio State players with this reaction when their championship trophy fell apart in his hands.
VP Vance fumbles Ohio State championship trophy during White House ceremony
The White House hosted the Ohio State University Buckeyes on Monday to celebrate their College Football Playoff National Championship victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in January.
President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, an Ohio native and OSU graduate, welcomed the championship team for the traditional White House ceremony honoring their 34-23 victory.
What should have been a proud moment for Vance quickly turned into an awkward situation when the 35-pound national championship trophy separated into two pieces during a photo opportunity.
As Vance and Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson attempted to hold up the trophy, they tilted it instead of raising it straight upward, causing the base to detach from the top portion with the gold football.
The Vice President lost his grip on the heavy base, which fell toward the ground. Fortunately, another quick-thinking team member managed to catch the main part of the trophy before it could crash to the floor.
Video of the incident quickly spread across social media, with users sharing clips of the Vice President’s fumble during what should have been a picture-perfect moment.
Ohio State alum @VP welcomes the 2024 National Champions to the White House:
“You guys were resilient. You were tough. You represented the state of Ohio well. You represented the whole country well.” pic.twitter.com/hhJj1QDnCT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 14, 2025
Vance responds with humor after trophy mishap
Rather than letting the embarrassing moment define the ceremony, Vance quickly recovered and proceeded with the photo opportunity after the trophy was reassembled.
Following the event, Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) to joke about the incident, writing, “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.”
The self-deprecating response showed Vance’s ability to laugh at himself after the awkward mishap and helped defuse what could have been a more embarrassing situation.
I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it https://t.co/rS3Vw3BdO6
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 14, 2025
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) saw an opportunity to chime in, responding to Vance’s post with a playful message about a football bet the two had made.
“Tragic. @JDVance fear not, you’ll get your TX BBQ, Blue Bell ice cream & Shiner Bock,” Cruz wrote, “and yes I’ll even be wearing an Ohio State jersey (shudder). Although you sure would have looked good in burnt orange….”
Cruz was referencing a wager Vance had called him out for during the ceremony, as the Texas Senator had yet to fulfill the terms of a bet he lost on an Ohio State versus Texas game.
Trophy incident follows Trump’s trolling of Adam Schiff at earlier White House ceremony
The Ohio State celebration came just one week after another sports-related White House event where President Trump hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers to honor their 2024 World Series victory over the New York Yankees.
During that ceremony, Trump delivered a memorable jab at Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), stating he opted not to introduce the notorious Russia collusion hoaxster or fellow California Senator Alex Padilla because he didn’t “particularly like them.”
After the crowd laughed at Trump’s candid remark, the President quipped that he didn’t think the statement would be controversial because “it’s Washington.”
The back-to-back sports ceremonies highlight the stark contrast between the current administration and the previous one under Joe Biden, where such candid moments were rare.
According to RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegmann, despite social media reports, the trophy did not actually “break” during the incident with Vance. The trophy was designed to come apart, though the separation was clearly not planned for that particular moment.
The award is two separate pieces–the trophy and the base with the idea being that the trophy is what’s held aloft, not the base.
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) April 14, 2025
While Vance is likely being memed across social media for the fumble, his quick recovery and willingness to joke about the incident rather than becoming defensive shows a refreshing transparency from the Vice President.
Unlike what might have happened under the previous administration, Vance immediately tried to recover the trophy himself rather than waiting for staff to address the situation.
The Ohio State ceremony continues the Trump administration’s tradition of hosting championship teams at the White House, a practice that highlights the President’s appreciation for American athletics and competitive spirit.
