Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence said several quotes that were attributed to him on social media were fake following his team’s dinner at the White House.
Lawrence, however, told TMZ that he loved Trump’s fast food dinner.
“It was awesome. We had McDonald’s and everything, it was good,” Trevor Lawrence told TMZ on his way out to the bus after the dinner.
I never said this by the way… I don’t know where it came from.
However the trip to the White House was awesome! https://t.co/dhYzZpSNUD
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) January 15, 2019
But later memes and images circulated around social media attributing him to a quote that he claims he never said.
The quote he denied saying was that “President Trump got all our favorite foods. It was the best meal we ever had. Then we go and see the coastal elite media trashing it for not being organic vegan. We’re football players, not bloggers. This was a perfect blue-collar party.”
On Jan. 15, Lawrence tweeted: “I never said this by the way… I don’t know where it came from. However, the trip to the White House was awesome!”
Ross Taylor, the assistant athletic director for Clemson football communications, told The Associated Press that Lawrence was shown the quote.
“Everything that is presented in that meme is fabricated,” Taylor told AP.
The false quote was circulated in a post on social media with the claim overlaid in text over a photo of confetti falling onto the quarterback following the team’s victory, AP reported.
Earlier this evening, President @realDonaldTrump treated the Clemson Tigers football team to dinner in the State Dining Room! #ALLIN pic.twitter.com/P5JAo6yzfR
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 15, 2019
Trump Pays for Meal
During the White House dinner, Trump served the winners fast food like McDonald’s and Wendy’s, costing around $3,000, the Washington Post reported. Trump said he paid for the meal himself due to the partial government shut down.
In the TMZ video, Lawrence was asked about whether he would visit the White House again.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence Loved Trump's Fast Food, Can't Wait to Come Back! https://t.co/yUTfNA2mOK
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 15, 2019
“Hopefully a few more,” he said.
Lawrence also wrote on Twitter that “the trip to the White House was awesome!”
Clemson defeated the University of Alabama during the NCAA College Football Playoff championship on Jan. 7.
Matt Bockhorst, another Clemson player, was seen 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? https://t.co/nsWC0ptCvi
— Matt Bockhorst (@MattBockhorst) January 15, 2019
“I mean you’re not just gonna NOT eat the Big Macs stacked in a pile right?” Bockhorst joked.
The next day, Trump tweeted a video of players speaking to him during the dinner.
“Great being with the National Champion Clemson Tigers last night at the White House. Because of the Shutdown, I served them massive amounts of Fast Food (I paid), over 1000 hamburgers etc. Within one hour, it was all gone. Great guys and big eaters!” the president said on Twitter.
Lawrence, a freshman at Clemson, performed well during the championship game.
However, he’s not eligible for the NFL draft for at least two more years.
