Former President Donald Trump hosted football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at an exclusive White House dinner on Tuesday evening, paying tribute to the Portuguese athlete during a high-profile event welcoming Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Glitzy Gathering of World Leaders
The lavish dinner brought together some of the world's most influential figures in business and sports, with Ronaldo joining tech billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance among the distinguished guests. This marked Ronaldo's first public appearance in the United States since facing rape allegations in 2017.
During his speech, Trump specifically acknowledged the football icon, revealing that his son Barron, an avid football fan, had met the Al-Nassr striker. "This room is loaded up with the biggest leaders in the world - business, sports," Trump declared. "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."
Controversial Saudi Relations
The event also marked the Saudi Crown Prince's first visit to the United States since US intelligence agencies concluded he had approved the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump had vigorously defended Bin Salman when questioned about Khashoggi's murder, contradicting intelligence reports from his own administration.
In a remarkable Oval Office exchange, Trump scolded reporters and asserted that the Crown Prince "knew nothing about" the journalist's killing, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Ronaldo's Return to American Soil
The White House appearance represents a significant moment for Ronaldo, who hasn't been photographed publicly in the US since former American teacher Kathryn Mayorga accused him of rape in 2017. The alleged incident was said to have occurred at a Las Vegas hotel in 2009.
Although Mayorga reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010 for $375,000, she renewed her allegations seven years later. A US judge dismissed the lawsuit against Ronaldo in 2022, citing the accuser's lawyer's reliance on leaked and stolen records. The footballer has consistently and vehemently denied all allegations.
Since 2017, Ronaldo has carefully avoided offseason or exhibition games in the United States during his spells with Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. His appearance at the White House comes as Portugal prepares for next summer's World Cup, which will be primarily hosted in the United States, and a scheduled friendly against the US team in Atlanta next March.
The football star attended the dinner with his fiancée, Georgina Rodriguez, continuing his recent efforts to build bridges with the former president. Earlier this year, Trump received a Portugal jersey signed by Ronaldo bearing the message: "To president Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace."
In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo expressed admiration for Trump, stating: "He is one of the guys who can help to change the world... One of the most important guys is the U.S. President. He is one of the guys I wish to meet to sit and have a nice talk."
The event continues Trump's pattern of aligning himself with sporting celebrities during his second term, having become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February and making high-profile appearances at the Ryder Cup, US Open men's final, and various NFL games.
