Platters of McDonald’s quarter pounders, burgers from Wendy’s, burgers from Burger King, french fries, and Domino’s pizza were among the offerings for the team.
“We have pizzas, we have 300 hamburgers, many, many french fries, all of our favorite foods,” Trump told reporters. “I want to see what’s here when we leave, because I don’t think it’s going to be much.”
Pictures showed players grabbing multiple options and taking them to nearby tables to eat.
He stopped to take pictures with fans, one of whom asked him how many more times he hoped to visit the White House.
“Hopefully a few more,” he said.
Matt Bockhorst, another player, was pictured eyeing the platter of Big Macs before grabbing two.
“I mean you’re not just gonna NOT eat the Big Macs stacked in a pile right?” Bockhorst said on Twitter in response to the photo.
He later said that besides eating a lot at the White House, he had grabbed two chicken wraps and a quarter-pounder on the way out.
The next morning, Trump posted a video showing players posing and speaking with him during the event.
About 25 percent of the government is shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed. The White House said many of the staff are furloughed, prompting Trump to order in food from various restaurants.
Trump told the players and coaches that he didn’t want to postpone their visit, which came on the heels of an undefeated season that culminated in winning the national championship.
“So, I had a choice: Do we have no food for you? Because we have a shutdown. Or do we give you some little, quick salads that the First Lady will make along with the Second Lady. They'll make some salads. And I said you guys aren’t into salads,” he said.
“Or do I go out and send out for about 1,000 hamburgers? Big Macs. So we actually did. We bought 1,000—Burger King, all American companies. Burger King, Wendy’s, and McDonald’s. We have Big Macs. We have quarter-pounders with cheese. We have everything that I like, that you like.”
Trump thanked the team for coming and said he was impressed with their season.
“You are incredible athletes, incredible players. Congratulations on your stunning victory against a great team and your second national championship in three years. Pretty incredible,” he said. “The Clemson Tiger football team has earned its place in the history books as the first team since 1897 to finish the season with an undefeated 15 and 0 record.”
He singled Lawrence out at one point, calling him a player “among the best in college football.”
“I want to be the agent of that tall, handsome quarterback,” he said. “You got a great future.”
