When earning the coveted title of national champions, a trip to the White House is the standard protocol. Sharing a moment of glory with the president of the United States and fellow teammates is the cherry on top of a hard-fought victory.
The Clemson University Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoffs Championship game 44-16 on January 7. Shortly after, an invitation to the White House was extended to head coach Dabo Swinney and his team. With the ongoing government shutdown, President Donald Trump promised to finance the victory meal the White House would serve. What he delivered, however, was a dollar menu disaster.
Trump served fast food during the Clemson University football team's White House visit because of the shutdown. He said it was either that or have the First Lady make them salads. pic.twitter.com/Aw67Tb9TgU
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 15, 2019
The student-athletes trekked to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday and were treated to an "American fast food" spread, which included an assortment of burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King. French fries and side salads accompanied the entrees, and an array of Domino's pizzas completed the menu.
Twitter delivered a proper roasting to the celebrity-in-chief for his anything but appetizing display:
#WhiteHouseDinners
Mama watching her son and all that money she cough up on those clothes he got on national tv just to be eating a Big Mac. pic.twitter.com/zuLlZz6gne— Palm Pilot Mane (@JayJachin) January 15, 2019
“Getchu a juice out the cooler before you sit down” #WhiteHouseDinners
pic.twitter.com/nCY8L0rUGC— Larry Jenkins Jr. (@ProfJenksAOB) January 15, 2019
Clemson U won the football national championship & were rewarded by getting to eat fast food under candelabra lighting with Trump at the White House.
See, kids? It doesn't always pay to do your best.
#WhiteHouseDinners#ClemsonWhiteHouse
pic.twitter.com/G176TEAHGU— Rich Goeckel (@RichGoeckel) January 15, 2019
Clemson: wow can’t wait to eat a nice meal at the White House in honor of our championship win!
*walks into a room with a fast food buffet*
Clemson: wtf
Trump: pic.twitter.com/6IVEOPKUIo
— Dan! At The Disco (@danielbutler33) January 15, 2019
He’s prouder of these hamburgers than he is of his adult sons https://t.co/tQunBaeuoH
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) January 15, 2019
???? ALL THAT FOOD COLD AS HELL TOO BOY YOU EVER DRIVE TOO LONG AND EAT YA MCDONALD’S TOO LATE LMAAAOOOOO FRIES WILD SOGGY BRUH THEY WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO EAT SOGGY MCDONALDS FRIES LMAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/aa6w77gj4p
— A West (@ayyy_west) January 15, 2019
Somebody mama paid $200 for some Stacy Adam loafers, just for her son to go to Washington D.C and get sweet&sour sauce on em. I can’t breathe.
— Even that rhymes with ‘hospital bed’ (@SmdSzn) January 15, 2019
One Clemson player thought Trump's earlier admission to serve them fast food "was a joke."
You can hear one of the Clemson Tigers players say “I thought it was a joke”. ????pic.twitter.com/bXA4aYtWNm
— laney (@misslaneym) January 15, 2019
The following morning, the president fired off a self-congratulatory tweet from his personal Twitter account. It had a glaring spelling error, which incited even more humor at his expense.
Trump tweeted that because of the shutdown he served them "massive amounts of fast food, over 1000 hamberders."
HAVE YOU TRIED DIPPING YOUR HAMBERDER IN COVFEFE? pic.twitter.com/4H2iqsAI3X
— ˗ˏˋ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴇʟʟᴀʀ ˊˎ˗ (@christellar) January 16, 2019
Burger King even got in on the joke, posting a playful tweet of its own.
due to a large order placed yesterday, we're all out of hamberders.
just serving hamburgers today.— Burger King (@BurgerKing) January 15, 2019
Many celebrities have stepped up to give the national champions an actual game-winning celebration, without a single filet-o-fish in sight.
Rapper Quavo offered to host the team at the Quality Control headquarters in Atlanta and celebrate their accomplishment "The Stir Fry Way."
I WANNA SHOW CLEMSON TIGERS AND POTUS HOW CHAMPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TREATED
YALL WELCOME TO COME BY THE QC HEADQUARTERS ANYTIME
Dabbin DABO STILL #GODAWGS
The Stir Fry Way!— QuavoYRN (@QuavoStuntin) January 15, 2019
Former NFL football player and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan did the same, opting to welcome the team to New York for some lobster and caviar.
ATTENTION @ClemsonFB: @michaelstrahan has a very important announcement for you! Should we expect to see you in Times Square for lobster AND caviar soon?#QTNA
#GMADay
https://t.co/W1vUNMab63
pic.twitter.com/fwPlNxERyb— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 15, 2019
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Ayesha Curry promised to feed the Clemson roster a real meal, void of any "10-cent dipping sauces."
@eatatsmoke will gladly feed the Clemson Tigers any day. A real feast and celebration. No 10cent dipping sauces on silver platters ????????♀️????????♀️????????♀️
— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) January 15, 2019
While Trump's ineffective attempt at serving a humble spread generated plenty of wisecracks to last through his first term in office, former NFL running back Reggie Bush was less than enthused with the president's publicity stunt and called the entire charade a "huge slap in the face."
No word yet if Dabo Swinney and company intend to accept one of the offers from Strahan, Quavo or Curry.
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