Trump jokes about earning son Barron’s respect via Ronaldo introduction at White House dinner

President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday night that he had finally won the ultimate teenage approval — from his own son — after orchestrating a personal meeting between 19-year-old Barron Trump and soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
The light-hearted moment came during a glittering black-tie dinner at the White House honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an event that blended high-stakes diplomacy with celebrity glamour.
Standing before a crowd that included tech titans Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jensen Huang, as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump paused his remarks to single out Ronaldo, who now plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
“My son Barron is a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo,” the president declared with a grin. “We have Ronaldo here tonight. Barron got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just because I introduced you.”
The quip drew laughter and applause in the East Room, with Ronaldo, seated near the front, smiling broadly as cameras captured the exchange.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, accompanied by his partner Georgina Rodríguez, had been invited as part of the Saudi delegation. His presence underscored Riyadh’s aggressive push into global sports under Crown Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 initiative, which has already lured Ronaldo, Neymar, and other superstars to the kingdom.
Barron Trump, a freshman at NYU and a well-known soccer enthusiast who played competitively in his youth, was not visibly present at the dinner but had apparently met Ronaldo earlier in the evening.
The dinner marked Mohammed bin Salman’s first visit to Washington since the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a trip signaling the rapid warming of U.S.-Saudi relations in Trump’s second term. Discussions reportedly focused on energy cooperation, artificial intelligence investment, and Saudi support for the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will co-host.
In brief remarks, Trump brushed aside past tensions, telling guests, “Things happen,” and praising the crown prince as a “great leader” who is “changing the Middle East.”
Ronaldo, who recently confirmed that the 2026 tournament will be his last World Cup, later posted a photo from the White House on social media with the caption: “Honored to be here. Thank you, Mr. President.”
For one night at least, geopolitics took a backseat to a father’s proud punchline — and a teenager’s brush with his sporting hero.