President Donald Trump has rarely shied away from moments that put him at the center of attention.
A recent White House event had all the makings of a routine celebration, complete with applause, praise, and personalized gifts.
But as the ceremony unfolded, Trump once again found a way to shift attention to himself and slip in a brutal insult to his guests.
Trump, 80, invited dozens of Olympians and Paralympians for a reception in the East Room on Aug. 7 to celebrate their accomplishments at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
At one point during the livestreamed event, the polarizing president was presented with a Team USA-branded jacket and sneakers.
He thanked Olympic bobsledder Frank Del Duca as he accepted the keepsakes to a room full of applause.
Staffers removed the podium from the stage so photographers could snap pictures of an excited, smiling Trump and his guests.
Paralympian alpine monoskier Laurie Stephens then presented Trump with the shoes as the athletes erupted into loud “USA” chants.
Moments later, Trump soaked in the applause before promising the Olympians special coins and a tour of the Oval Office.
However, the joyful scene took a shady turn. Things took a petty route when Trump took an unsolicited swipe at past White House champions.
“I don’t do this with too many of the people coming, and most of them just want to get out of there. Some of them, I like. Some of them, I love. Some of them I don’t like so much, but they all come here,” Trump stated.
Again, laughter filled the space before he added, “We just had the Dodgers. They were fantastic. And the Super Bowl [winners]. We have everybody, and this is one of the great honors, and really you’re tremendous athletes.”
Trump has made a habit of putting people on the spot with public jabs and personal insults during team visits.
In July, Shohei Ohtani and the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers also visited Trump for a celebration in the Rose Garden.
But his speech is what raised eyebrows. Midway through his remarks, Trump had no idea what one of the prepared lines in his speech meant. He looked at the crowd and said, “That’s what they give me to read.”
"That's what they give me to read, so what can I tell you? … I don't know what the hell that means" — Trump is surprised by the stuff he's straight up reading from the text that was prepared for him pic.twitter.com/3Im2HMo0b0
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 23, 2026
This time, Trump’s insult was indirect. Still, critics jumped at every chance to badmouth him on social media.
“Props… He loves using people as props. Worthless, vile human being,” an outraged X poster declared about the POTUS.
A second critic of the president simply expressed, They’re all looking at him like ‘wtf is this moron talking about.'”
Other moments from Team USA’s White House visit also went viral. One clip involves a person standing near Trump on the dais.
About 10 minutes into his speech, Trump praised what he called the nation’s best athletes. He then claimed his administration had helped “save” women’s sports and protect the country’s sporting traditions.
Those self-congratulatory declarations garnered a noticeable smirk from one female Paralympian seated in a wheelchair to Trump’s left.
“She knows a line of bulls–t when she hears it,” an observer on X tweeted.
Another commenter added, “No one behind him knows what the f–k he is talking about.”
Additionally, one viewer offered a response that suggested Trump was essentially sucking the life out of the room, writing, “Look at the faces of the athletes. They think he’s bonkers.”
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Despite online claims that some athletes appeared uncomfortable, the ceremony ended with many Olympians and Paralympians cheering and taking photos of Trump.
The upbeat finish contrasted with some of Trump’s past championship visits.
The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their Super Bowl LIX victory at the White House in April 2025. Starting quarterback Jalen Hurts skipped the event, citing scheduling conflicts.
Despite Trump’s interference, the Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals. Team owner James Dolan, a longtime Trump supporter, said the team accepted an invite to the White House. Though a date has yet to be set.
