Trump Says He’s ‘Not Happy’ Fernando Mendoza Skipped National Championship Celebration at the White House

NEED TO KNOW

• Fernando Mendoza opted not to go to the White House
• The NFL rookie was in training camp on the same day his former team visited President Donald Trump
• At least two other former Indiana players also skipped the event

Fernando Mendoza skipped the Indiana Hoosiers’ White House visit — and President Donald Trump was “not happy.”

The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback opted to stay with his new team on the first day of OTAs (organized team activities) on Monday, May 11 instead of traveling to Washington, D.C. alongside most of his former team, who won the national championship in January.

“Now the reason he’s not here — he was so nice he called — he’s a big fan of ours,” Trump said in his address, standing in front of Indiana players and flanked by Hoosiers wide receiver Charlie Becker and head coach Curt Cignetti.

He added, “You wouldn’t believe it 'cause he didn’t show up, I’m not happy but that’s okay.”

Mendoza, 22, was not the only former Hoosiers player to opt out of the visit. Center Pat Coogan and D’Angelo Ponds were among those who did not attend due to NFL obligations, according to The Athletic.

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The NFL rookie previously shared that it was unlikely that he would attend the gathering.

“If it is on the first day of OTAs [organized team activities], like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself,” Mendoza said on Saturday, May 2. “I can’t miss practice.”

He added, “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.”

At the ceremony, Becker, Cignetti and Jamari Sharpe — whose interception during the championship was a game-changer — spoke on behalf of the school.

At one point, Trump asked Cignetti if the Hoosiers could run it back.

"We've got a chance if we commit, have great discipline, and if we can handle success, and we can handle failure, and we’re consistent, day in, day out, we may have a chance," Cignetti said.

Read the original article on People