The Indiana Hoosiers, led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, won the college football national championship last season. On Monday, the Hoosiers attended the White House in celebration of the accomplishment, but Mendoza was not able to attend.
“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I’ve got to prove myself,” Mendoza told reporters, explaining why he couldn’t make the trip. “I can’t miss practice. I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I want to try to best serve my teammates, and I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”
For his part, Donald Trump said that he wasn’t happy Mendoza’s absence, but that he was okay with it because he knows Mendoza is a supporter of his.
“Fernando Mendoza—he didn’t show up. I’m not happy, but that’s ok. He is actually a big fan of what we are doing,” Trump said.
Trump: Fernando Mendoza—he didn't show up. I'm not happy, but that's ok. He is actually a big fan of what we are doing. pic.twitter.com/9u4YrWbjVc
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 11, 2026
People reacted to the revelation on social media.
“Definitely want to hear that from Fernando himself. He spoke Spanish on purpose at the Heisman trophy ceremony,” one person wrote on Twitter.
“I am betting based on what I have seen from a distance of Fernando, he isn’t okay with what the Trump regime is doing. He is a child of immigrants. There’s no way he is okay with what you are doing,” another fan added.
“Fernando Mendoza, big fan of astronomical gas prices and blowing up a girls school. Wow, who knew?” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if Mendoza addresses the President’s revelation.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.