Trump Insists Star Nfl Draft Pick Is A Huge Fan Despite Skipping White House Event

President Trump claims that Fernando Mendoza, nan caller number 1 NFL draught pick, is simply a “big fan” of nan Trump administration, moreover though nan backmost did not subordinate his erstwhile Indiana University teammates visiting nan White House connected Monday to celebrate their nationalist championship.

Mendoza, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders first overall, moreover called nan president to apologize, Trump said.

“He was truthful nice,” Trump said. “He called because actually…(he’s) a large instrumentality of ours. You wouldn’t judge it because he didn’t show up. I’m not happy, but that’s OK. The logic he didn’t is because he’s astatine outpouring training, right?”

“Fernando couldn’t beryllium present coming because, arsenic I said, he’s now a personnel of nan Las Vegas Raiders and let’s spot really bully a squad they have,” Trump added. “I deliberation he’s going to do great. He’s a winner.”

The Independent has contacted Mendoza for comment.

The Raiders confirmed to nan Las Vegas Review-Journal that Mendoza was astatine nan team’s installation successful Henderson connected Monday for preseason preparations.

The Heisman Trophy-winner himself acknowledged earlier that he wouldn’t beryllium capable to subordinate nan triumph circuit astatine nan White House because of Raiders obligations.

“I’m connected nan bottommost of nan totem rod here,” he told reporters past week. “I’ve sewage to beryllium myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t cognize thing official. I don’t person nan calendar, but I conscionable wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t deliberation that’s a bully look, and I want to effort to champion service my teammates. And I don’t cognize if that’d beryllium accomplishing that goal.”

As The Athletic notes, aggregate Hoosiers missed nan White House sojourn because of NFL obligations connected Monday.

Indiana sent a program-record 8 players to nan convention this year, and Mendoza is 1 of 4 members of nan nationalist title Indiana squad now pinch nan Raiders.

Trump antecedently encountered Mendoza astatine nan nationalist title crippled successful January, wherever nan backmost led nan undefeated Hoosiers to triumph Indiana’s first nationalist title successful programme history.

At nan game, Trump was greeted pinch a thunderous reception.

Raiders fans are hoping Mendoza tin bring immoderate of nan aforesaid magic he showed successful that 27-to-21 triumph to nan Raiders franchise, which hasn’t made it to nan Super Bowl since 2003.