The Florida basketball team’s final moment together was another winning performance, only this time on an even bigger stage than last month’s NCAA championship game.

President Donald Trump welcomed coach Todd Golden and the Florida Gators to the White House Wednesday to celebrate their 2025 national title, showering players with praise while delivering one-liners all around.

Trump entered the East Room with Golden by his side and quickly told the crowd, many among it holding up cell phones to capture the moment, “I just met your coach. I can see why you won.”

Trump soon introduced Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, each Florida graduates, along with Senator Rick Scott and U.S. representatives from the Sunshine State.

Before long, Trump welcomed Tim Tebow to join them on stage, saying, “As a college player, maybe the best ever.”

Golden and the Gators, though, were the main attraction.

“I heard a lot of good things about him,” Trump said of the 39-year-old coach, who recently signed a six-year, $40.5 million deal. “Oh, would I like to be his agent. Don’t go anywhere, Coach.”

Given the gravity and singularity of a White House visit, the majority of the players and coaching staff made their way to Washington, D.C.

Orlando’s Denzel Aberdeen joined his former teammates despite his surprising decision to transfer to Kentucky for his final season.

Trump quipped, “I love that name. Denzel Aberdeen. I have a place in Aberdeen, Scotland.”

Also on hand were former assistant coaches Kevin Hovde, now the head coach at Columbia University, and John Andrzejek, who left for Campbell University, along with forward Sam Alexis, who transferred to Indiana University.

Trump recalled many of the moments from the Gators’ march to the national championship and a 36-4 record while signaling out many of the team’s stars.

From Will Richard’s game-winning layup to stun South Carolina to Alijah Martin’s clutch free throws to give the Gators a late lead in the championship game against Houston, Trump hit all the high points of the 2024-25 season.

“Were you nervous?” Trump asked Martin, who replied he was not.

“Oh, if you didn’t sink them, you wouldn’t be up here now,” Trump said, drawing a chorus of laughter.

Trump made sure to single out All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., the NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player, to position him to become a first-round pick in next month’s NBA draft.

“I hear he’s unbelievable, special, going to be a very early draft choice,” Trump said, adding, “if they’re smart.”

Trump soon looked ahead even further at the Gators’ title defense in 2025-26 and their preseason ranking.

Told by Golden a spot in the top 5 is likely, Trump said, “If you’re top 5, that means with you as a coach, you’re going to win.”

After Trump concluded, “Go Gators; we love you in Florida,” Golden closed the ceremony by thanking the nation’s 47th president for the invitation and those on hand for their support.

”Mr. President, I like to think of our program similarly to way you think of the United States — we’re a meritocracy,” he said. “We work really, really hard. No matter what you look like, where you come from, if you put the team first and win, we’re going to play you.

“I’m incredibly proud of our players and staff and what we’ve done over the last year. Our goal is to do everything we can to put us in position to be here next year.”

When Golden finished, he then presented Trump a basketball signed by the players and staff, along with a No. 47 Gators jersey.

“Thank you; that’s very sweet,” Trump said.

Trump then ushered the team to the Oval Office, where he greeted 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux with a handshake as Trump sat at his desk.

“One of my guys downstairs said these are the tallest human beings I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.

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