Trump Says His Son Is a “Big Fan” of Ronaldo at High‑Profile White House Dinner
U.S. President Donald Trump paid warm tribute to Portuguese soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo during a black-tie dinner at the White House, where he revealed that his youngest son, Barron, is a devoted fan of the football star.
The dinner, held on November 18 in honour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, drew a number of prominent figures, including billionaire Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In his pre-dinner remarks, Trump addressed Ronaldo directly:
“You know, my son is a big fan of Ronaldo … Barron got to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”
Ronaldo, 40, who currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr, was seated prominently near the head table, shortly before Trump and the Crown Prince made their entrance.
The event underscored both political and personal dimensions: Trump defended the Crown Prince as a “man of leadership” despite past controversy, while also using the occasion to highlight a personal family moment.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has indicated that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States will co-host, will likely be his last.
If you like, I can write this as a featured article for a sports‑diplomacy column, with analysis on what Ronaldo’s presence means in the context of U.S.–Saudi relations. Do you want me to do that?