The awkward moment happened while the U.S. Marine Band played “We Are the Champions.”
Vice President and proud Ohio State alum JD Vance tried to help the Buckeyes celebrate their NCAA football championship during a White House visit Monday — but ended up fumbling their trophy.
The awkward moment came toward the end of the event, after Vance called out a man sporting a hat with the name of Ohio State’s top rival, the University of Michigan, and the team presented Vance and President Donald Trump with a custom helmet and jersey.
As the U.S. Marine Band played “We Are the Champions,” Vance — who graduated from the school in 2009 with a degree in philosophy and political science — tried to lift the 3-foot championship trophy, which the team earned by defeating Notre Dame 34-23 in January.
The trophy — an “ascending virtual football” made of two gold brackets and a steel core — separated from its base, which tumbled to the floor.
Vance quickly picked it up and — with an assist from Ohio State coach Ryan Day — posed with the gold brackets.
Vance played off the fumble, saying on X: “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.”
