President Donald Trump tried to explain Fernando Mendoza’s absence during the Indiana University Hoosiers football team visit the White House.
“Now the reason he’s not here — he was so nice, he called,” Trump, 79, claimed to reporters on Monday, May 11, from Washington, D.C. “He’s been great and he’s at spring training, like his first day or something. I said, ‘You better go there.’”
Trump said he wouldn’t have even mentioned the Heisman Trophy winner and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback if Mendoza, 22, gave the commander-in-chief any other excuse for his absence.
“If he was not here for other reasons like he didn’t like Trump or he didn’t want to come, I wouldn’t have even mentioned him,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t even mention the quarterback’s name, but he’s a great guy actually, and he’s actually a big fan of what we’re doing for our country.”
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Earlier this month, Mendoza confirmed to reporters that he in all likelihood wouldn’t be attending the celebratory White House visit after his college football team went 16-0 last season and clinched their first College Football Playoff National Championship in January.
“I believe May 11th is the first day of OTAs (organized team activities). … If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I say, I’m at the bottom of the totem pole here [in Las Vegas], I’ve got to prove myself,” Mendoza told reporters on May 2. “I can’t miss practice. Yeah, I can’t miss practice. … I’m a rookie. I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to serve my teammates, and I don’t know whether that would be achieving my goal.”
All eight Hoosiers who were drafted into the NFL were unable to make it to D.C. and participate in Trump’s 30-minute ceremony.
During his speech, Trump reiterated that Mendoza was a fan of his and even joked that he was disappointed that the rookie NFL quarterback couldn’t attend.
“He’s a big fan of ours, but you wouldn’t believe it because he didn’t show up,” Trump said with a laugh on the South Lawn. “I’m not happy, but that’s OK, the reason he didn’t is because he’s at spring training. I actually said, ‘Let him. He’s gotta win.’ I think he’s going to win pretty early.”
Mendoza has made a positive impression among numerous sports fans for his athletic skills and close connection with his family.
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While accepting the Heisman Trophy in December 2025, the devoted Catholic dedicated the prestigious accolade to his mother in an emotional speech.
“Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light, you’re my ‘why,’ you’re my biggest supporter,” he shared. “Your sacrifices, courage, love, those have been my first playbook and that playbook that I’m going to carry by my side for my entire life.”
Instead of attending the NFL draft in Pennsylvania last month, Mendoza chose to celebrate with his parents in their Florida hometown. The athlete pointed to practical concerns, since his mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007 and now uses a wheelchair.
