USA TODAY International Edition
Clemson, Trump visit about more than food
Of all the things to get worked up about during the Clemson football team’s visit to the White House on Day 24 of the government shutdown, fast food should be the least of our concerns.
While the stunning incongruity of a president of the United States serving a dinner of McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s to guests at the elegant White House is worth noting and dissecting, there are other aspects of the Clemson visit that should be of even more interest.
As in: What was the rush? Most White House celebrations occur at least a month or two after a championship is won. Why did Trump hurry Clemson into the White House a week after the national championship game? Is he really that lonely — or so desperate for a photo op with football players? Diversion, anyone?
Also, why did Clemson fall for it? Don’t university officials know that 800,000 of their fellow Americans, along with their families, are going without paychecks due to a shutdown that Trump said he is “proud” to have orchestrated?
Why would anyone want to show up at the White House to celebrate anything during this difficult time — and serve as a prop for Trump in the process?
Another question: If Trump really is into buying people food, why isn’t he buying meals for the people who really need them, government workers who continue to go without paychecks, like the Secret Service members who keep him safe?
And, one more while we’re at it: Why does Trump seemingly not want to honor women’s teams? My USA TODAY colleague Tom Schad reports that no women’s teams were honored at the White House in 2018, unless you count the women who showed up as part of the depleted U.S. Olympic delegation last spring.
Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama made it a point to include men’s and women’s teams together in the East Room or on the South Lawn — lacrosse teams, soccer teams, volleyball teams, you name it. During their glory days, UConn women’s basketball players were feted like rock stars by Obama.
Trump brought 18 women’s and men’s NCAA championship teams together in the White House 14 months ago, but hasn’t done it since. What’s up with that?
Enough questions. Let’s get back to Fast-foodgate. I’ve covered dozens of White House sports ceremonies over the years and don’t ever remember seeing food served. Perhaps punch and cookies, or ice cream, but never an actual meal, and certainly not dinner, because all the receptions were in the morning or afternoon.
I checked with a couple of others who’ve been to a White House sports ceremony or two and they agreed. The last thing any president wants to do is spend taxpayer dollars to feed teams, especially professional teams full of millionaires.
There have been times when those teams have funded their own receptions, but nothing like the show Trump put on Monday night.