Why Fernando Mendoza may avoid White House meeting with Donald Trump
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images After an impressive College Football campaign, the Indiana Hoosiers accepted Donald Trump’s invitation to visit the White House on 11 May, an opportunity to recognise their historic success. Attention quickly turned to Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders’ new quarterback and a cornerstone in Hoosiers ’ undefeated run. As the No.
1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft too, his availability became a key talking point. When asked about attending, Mendoza addressed the situation directly. His response highlighted the challenge of balancing past achievements with the demands of starting his professional career.
Fernando Mendoza prioritises NFL duties over White House appearance Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images Mendoza indicated he is unlikely to attend the Hoosiers’ White House meeting. The former Indiana quarterback played a central role in the first-ever 16-0 College Football season. Despite that achievement, his focus has already shifted to the NFL.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he pointed to a scheduling conflict with Organized Team Activities. “If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself.
I can’t miss practice,” he began by saying. “I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look.