Gators Do DC – Florida Gators

Last Updated: May 21, 2025By


WASHINGTON – Todd Golden stepped to the podium Wednesday afternoon and gave President Donald Trump and the audience a brief but accurate description of the 2024-25 Florida basketball team that won the national championship and earned the customary and traditional invitation to the nation’s capital. 
 
“Mr. President, I like to think of our program similarly to how you think of the United States. We’re a meritocracy. We work really hard and no matter what you look like or where you come from, and if you put the team first and win we’re going to play you,” Golden told the leader of the free world, citing his players’ work ethic, attitude and passion for the University of Florida. “The reason we were successful this year is because we had incredible team talent. We had guys who were willing to play together and sacrifice individual stats for the good of the group and it led us to a 36-4 record — and a trip to the White House.” 
 
Golden then presented Trump with a No. 47 University of Florida basketball jersey, as the crowed of about 400 packed inside the ornate East Room went wild.
 
And, with that, the Gators’ miraculous basketball season had the presidential seal of approval. 
 

 “One for the history books,” Trump said of the Gators’ ’24-25 campaign. “All these close games against great teams, [but] you kept winning and never let up when the odds were against you.”
 
No, they didn’t and their day trip to DC was the latest reward for the exploits of the group led by Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard and Alijah Martin, each of who was singled out by Trump – who was flanked on the stage by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, even Tim Tebow, among others – for their heroics at pivotal moments. 

  • Richard’s game-winning layup with five seconds left to complete a 14-point comeback win at South Carolina. “Where are you, Will? Oh. He’s a good-looking guy.” 

  • Clayton’s scoring rampage in the NCAA Tournament. “I hear he’s really good … going to be really rich, too.” 

  • Martin’s free throws for the lead inside a minute to go in the national-championship game against Houston. “Were you nervous?” No, Martin said. 

Oh, and even sophomore forward Thomas Haugh got a shout-out for his 20-point, 11-rebound performance off the bench against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight. 

“He has good hair,” Trump said of Haugh’s blonde locks. 

Eventually, after some more praise for the “great coach, great team,” Trump signed off with this. 

“All I can say is, ‘Go Gators!’ We love you in Florida.”

That one got something of a stir from the crowd, as well. 

What a day, what an experience it was. 

“Thumbs up,” Martin said on the way out. 

 

The trip was pulled off despite some logistical challenges. UF had a charter flight leave from Gainesville around 7:30 a.m., but more than half the players had to fly in Tuesday night from various outposts, including some NBA workout venues, to be in place for pickup at their downtown hotel to join the travel party mid-morning. 

Weather canceled a planned sightseeing excursion on the National Mall, but the Gators went to the US Capitol and got a tour led by Florida congresswoman Kat Cammack. She ferried the group into the bowels of the building for a short subway ride when they ran into Florida congressman Byron Donalds. 

“I’m a Florida State Seminole, but congrats,” Donalds told the team. “Enjoy the tour.” 

Clayton, a noted FSU hater, wasn’t having it. 

“We rolled you guys this year,” Clayton shot back. “That was part of the tour.”

So was a brief appearance by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who took a couple minutes to stop, say hello, talk about being at LSU as a student during the years of Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Jackson, then went back to working on the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” 

 

The team was led past various points of interest through the Capitol rotunda, with tourists staring in disbelief as the Gators – especially 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux – sauntered by.

“You get an appreciation for how passionate our fans in the DC area are for the Gators,” UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “There seems to be something that unites both sides when they see Coach Golden and the players walking around inside the Capitol with chance to tell them how much that championship meant.”

 

Next came lunch hosted by Cammack, a Republican, and fellow Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat and double-degree Gator.

 

“We’re living proof that Democrats and Republicans can get along, especially when we share the common bond of the Gators,” Wasserman Schultz said. “I think we can take some lessons from this Florida basketball team. Your unity, clearly having one another’s back, sticking together and persevering, those are incredible qualities that allowed you to achieve this national championship.”

 

After another spin through the Capitol, the team boarded the bus – with police escort – to the White House, where (after security, of course) they were greeted in the entrance hallway by an acoustic version (guitar and violin) of “I Won’t Back Down” that was absolutely stunning. 

 

Outside the East Room, the five-piece President’s Marine Band played “We Are the Champions” as the team arrived for a dry-run rehearsal before the official presidential ceremony. 

About 90 minutes later, the team filed into the East Room to the Gator fight song, followed by the UF alma mater. A few moments later came “Hail to the Chief.” 

 

As the ceremony was about to wrap up, Trump invited the team to join him in the Oval Office afterward, then shared a conversation he’d had with Golden beforehand. 

 

“Coach thinks he’s going to have a fantastic team again next year, too,” Trump said. 

 

Yes, he does. With the goal, of course, being to “Make A Gator (White House visit) Again.”

Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu




Source link

editor's pick

latest video

Sports News To You

Subscribe to receive daily sports scores, hot takes, and breaking news!

you might also like