A routine photo op turned into an internet sensation when Vice President JD Vance accidentally separated the National Championship football trophy during Ohio State’s White House visit. The viral moment, captured by multiple cameras, shows the prestigious award coming apart in Vance’s hands as President Trump stands nearby, seemingly unaware of the mishap.
Social media users were quick to dissect the incident, with some offering technical explanations about the trophy’s detachable design while others seized the opportunity for political humor. “The proper way is for the trophy to be handed to them, not require them to pick it up,” one user noted, while another joked: “Could be worse like our democracy falling apart…oh wait.”
Vance later took to Twitter to address what he called his “fumble” with a humorous spin: “I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.” The response drew both laughs and criticism, with some followers suggesting a more straightforward approach would have been better.
The incident provided a rare moment of levity in Washington, though as with most things in politics, even a simple trophy mishap couldn’t escape being viewed through a partisan lens by some observers. As the video continues circulating, it serves as another example of how quickly ceremonial moments can become viral content in the digital age.
