In a remarkable display of cross-cultural diplomacy, former US President Donald Trump personally welcomed football icon Cristiano Ronaldo to the Oval Office this week, presenting him with a rare golden key to the White House.
A Presidential Honour for Sporting Royalty
The meeting occurred as part of an official Saudi Arabian delegation visit led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This marked Ronaldo's first public appearance in the United States since 2017, when an American teacher accused him of rape - allegations he has consistently and vehemently denied.
Trump warmly received the 40-year-old footballer and his fiancée Georgina Rodriguez, giving them an exclusive tour of his office before presenting the signature gift. The oversized bronze key represents a personal honour created by Trump himself, departing from conventional presidential protocols.
Ronaldo becomes the first sports personality to receive this distinctive honour, joining an exclusive group that includes Elon Musk, former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, and Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu - the first recipient back in 2020.
Symbolic Gestures and Political Alignments
Official photographs captured Ronaldo holding both the distinctive key and a model of a B-2 stealth bomber, the same aircraft Trump deployed in a June operation against Iran's nuclear facilities. The US military sent seven B-2 bombers, each costing approximately $2 billion, to drop six massive 30,000-pound 'bunker buster' bombs and thirty Tomahawk missiles on nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Trump later celebrated the meeting on his Truth Social platform, posting: 'Ronaldo is a GREAT GUY. Loved meeting him at the White House. Really smart, and cool!!!' alongside an AI-generated video showing them playing soccer together in the Oval Office.
The gathering also featured Elon Musk, who had received an identical key from Trump in May before their very public falling out. In a sign of repaired relationships, Musk attended the Saudi dinner at the White House and posed for a selfie with Ronaldo.
Broader Implications and Future Prospects
Ronaldo's courtship of American political influence comes at a crucial juncture in his career. His prolonged absence from the United States coincided with the rape allegations brought by Kathryn Mayorga, who claimed the footballer assaulted her at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
Although Mayorga reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010 for $375,000, she later sought millions more through a lawsuit that was ultimately dismissed by a US judge in 2022 due to her lawyer's reliance on leaked and stolen records.
The timing of this diplomatic engagement carries particular significance as Portugal secured qualification for next summer's World Cup, with the majority of tournament matches scheduled for US venues. Additionally, Ronaldo's national team faces the United States in a friendly match in Atlanta next March.
Recent developments suggest careful relationship-building between the footballer and the former president. In July, Trump received a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo bearing the message: 'To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace.'
Furthermore, in an interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo expressed admiration for Trump's peacemaking efforts, stating: 'He is one of the guys who can help to change the world. One of the most important guys is the US President.'
The meeting also raises questions about potential political influence regarding Ronaldo's recent red card during a Portugal World Cup qualifier against Ireland. Typically, such violent conduct offences carry suspensions of up to three competitive matches, which could impact his participation in next year's World Cup.
Notably, FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the same Saudi dinner, leading to speculation about whether Ronaldo's new political connections might influence disciplinary decisions.
