Ronaldo receives rare gift during visit with president Trump at the white house

November 21, 2025 Oliver Obel

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the United States after nearly a decade became an unexpected Washington spectacle this week, as the football star joined President Donald Trump for a formal dinner at the White House. The visit blended diplomatic ceremony with celebrity energy, drawing guests’ attention the moment the Portuguese forward walked into the East Room.

Ronaldo attended the event alongside Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Several attendees said the atmosphere noticeably shifted when the striker arrived, with staff clearing space near the entrance as Trump moved in to greet him.

During the dinner, the president highlighted the range of attendees, saying the evening brought together “the biggest leaders in the world — business, sports.”

In a later interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo spoke warmly about the encounter, calling Trump “one of the guys that can help to change the world.” According to GIVEMESPORT, the Al-Nassr forward recently surpassed Carlos Ruiz to become the all-time top scorer in World Cup qualifying, reaching 41 goals.

A rare presidential gesture

Before the dinner, Ronaldo and his fiancée, Georgina Rodríguez, were given a short private tour of the Oval Office. During that tour, Trump presented him with a golden key to the White House a symbolic keepsake the president designed early in his term.

Reporting from The Daily Mail notes that only a few individuals have received the key, including Benjamin Netanyahu, former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso, and Elon Musk.

A White House aide described the key as a “personal gesture of regard” rather than an official state honor. Ronaldo, the first athlete to receive it, posed for photos beside the Resolute Desk, lifting the key slightly for the cameras.

Shortly after the visit, the White House posted a photo carousel on Instagram featuring Trump and Ronaldo shaking hands inside the Oval Office, with the golden key visible between them.

You can see the INSTAGRAM post here

A backdrop with geopolitical weight

Photos from the evening also showed a model of a B-2 stealth bomber positioned on a table behind the two men. A staff member familiar with the office décor said the model had been displayed since U.S. airstrikes earlier this year on Iranian nuclear facilities.

At the time, outlets including Reuters and The Guardian reported that seven B-2 aircraft delivered bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles during the operation. Trump later described the strike as a “spectacular military success.”

The model had no direct connection to Ronaldo’s visit, but its presence in the background sparked fresh conversation online after the Instagram photos circulated.

Praise online and what comes next

Trump echoed his enthusiasm on Truth Social late Wednesday, calling Ronaldo a “GREAT GUY” and sharing an AI-generated clip imagining the two playing football on the South Lawn.

Ronaldo is due back in the United States next summer for the 2026 World Cup. Portugal, however, is expected to start the tournament without him as he serves a suspension for a red card against Ireland, issued after elbowing defender Dara O’Shea.

Sources: GIVEMESPORT, Daily Mail, Reuters, The Guardian, Complex

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