Trending Now - Trump Welcomes Indiana Hoosiers, Coach Mendoza Misses Event
WHO:
talkSPORT - Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
talkSPORT - Former Indiana center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds also did not attend the White House visit due to NFL obligations.
Daily Mail Sports - Coach Cignetti is the mastermind behind the Hoosiers' first national championship win.
TMZ - President Trump welcomed the Indiana Hoosiers.
Daily Mail Sports - Coach Cignetti is one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.
Fox News - Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza missed the White House visit.
WHAT:
talkSPORT - Mendoza stated he did not want to miss any activities with the Raiders, saying, "I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice."
talkSPORT - The Indiana Hoosiers had a school-record eight players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fox News - President Trump stated that Fernando Mendoza called in during the White House visit.
Fox News - President Trump hosted the Indiana Hoosiers to celebrate their historic 2025 college football playoff national championship win.
Heavy NFL - Fernando Mendoza decided not to join his former Indiana teammates at the White House.
WHERE:
TMZ - The event took place at the White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
WHEN:
talkSPORT - The Las Vegas Raiders' first OTA workout is scheduled for May 18, 2026.
US Magazine - President Trump made his comments regarding Fernando Mendoza's absence on May 11, 2026.
Fox News - The Hoosiers visited the White House to celebrate their championship win in 2025.
WHY:
NBC Sports - Trump stated, “He’s been great and he’s at spring training, like his first day or something.”
NBC Sports - Trump expressed his disappointment over Mendoza's absence, stating, “I’m not happy, but that’s OK. The reason he didn’t, because he’s at spring training, right?”
NBC Sports - Trump mentioned that Mendoza called in to explain his absence, saying, “He has actually . . . he’s a big fan of ours.”
Sportskeeda - Trump expressed disappointment over Fernando Mendoza skipping the White House visit, stating, “I’m not happy.”
TMZ - President Trump claimed that Fernando Mendoza is a "huuuge fan" of the Hoosiers.
HOW:
talkSPORT - Trump asked, "Who is Curt? Curt Cignetti? Where is Curt Cignetti?" while standing next to Indiana's head coach during the White House visit.
Daily Mail Sports - Trump appeared to not recognize Coach Cignetti during the reception.
Daily Mail Sports - Trump appeared unaware of who Coach Cignetti was during the reception.
(UPDATED May 12, 2026 17:39 UTC)
In a significant moment for the NFL, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza expressed his commitment to the team by stating, "I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice," which is why he, along with former Indiana center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, did not attend the White House visit due to NFL obligations. Meanwhile, the Indiana Hoosiers celebrated a remarkable achievement with a school-record eight players drafted, and the Raiders are set to kick off their first OTA workout on May 18, 2026.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 13:31 UTC)
Trump praised a player during spring training, saying, “He’s been great and he’s at spring training, like his first day or something.” This comment highlights the excitement surrounding the start of the baseball season. Fans are eager to see how the team will perform as they prepare for the upcoming games.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 07:50 UTC)
President Trump addressed the media regarding Fernando Mendoza's absence, making his comments at 23:18 UTC. The remarks were reported by US Magazine, highlighting the ongoing discussions surrounding Mendoza's situation. This statement comes as the public continues to follow developments in this unfolding story.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 06:02 UTC)
Trump expressed his disappointment over Mendoza's absence, saying, “I’m not happy, but that’s OK. The reason he didn’t, because he’s at spring training, right?” He also mentioned that Mendoza called in to explain his absence, adding, “He has actually . . . he’s a big fan of ours.”
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 04:12 UTC)
Trump expressed disappointment after Fernando Mendoza decided to skip the White House visit, saying, “I’m not happy.” This comment came during a recent event where he addressed the importance of such visits. Mendoza's absence has drawn attention, highlighting the ongoing discussions surrounding the White House's engagement with sports figures.
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(UPDATED May 12, 2026 01:30 UTC)
Coach Cignetti has been hailed as the mastermind behind the Hoosiers' first national championship win, marking a significant achievement for the team. During a recent White House visit, President Trump mentioned that Fernando Mendoza called in, adding to the day's events. Interestingly, Trump seemed not to recognize Coach Cignetti during the reception, highlighting a surprising moment amidst the celebrations.
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(UPDATED May 11, 2026 23:18 UTC)
President Trump hosted the Indiana Hoosiers at the White House to celebrate their historic 2025 college football playoff national championship win. Notably absent from the event was Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who decided not to join his former teammates, although Trump referred to him as a "huuuge fan" of the Hoosiers. During the reception, Trump seemed unaware of who Coach Cignetti was, despite him being one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.