Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza has sparked fury by revealing he will likely snub a White House visit with his championship-winning Indiana teammates.
The Heisman winner, taken No. 1 overall at the 2026 NFL Draft, said professional duties in Vegas take priority over celebrating with Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.
Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 season, claims the May 11 ceremony conflicts with the start of OTAs at his new NFL home.
‘If it is the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m the bottom of the totem pole here,’ Mendoza told reporters during a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
‘As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look,’ Mendoza added. ‘I want to try to best serve my teammates and I don’t know if that would be doing that.’
It didn’t take long for the former Indiana star’s comments to go viral on social media, with fans lamenting him for snubbing the opportunity to celebrate with Trump.
Fernando Mendoza has sparked fury by revealing he will likely snub a White House visit
The White House will host the college football champion Indiana Hoosiers on May 11
Taking to X, one fan wrote: ‘Even as a rookie, you’re able to miss a day to meet with the leader of the free world.’
Similarly, another user online said: ‘Don’t like this. I think the Raiders would understand taking one day to visit the White House.’
‘It’s a good work ethic, though the organization would definitely understand missing a practice to meet the President,’ another wrote.
The Raiders’ website actually lists the start of OTAs as Monday, May 18 – a full week after the scheduled White House visit.
Indiana’s remarkable turnaround at the hands of head coach Curt Cignetti saw them go a perfect 16-0 and clinch the title after beating Miami 27-21.
A stunning performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza brought them to the promised land.
Mendoza reaped the reward of his stellar season by being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Heisman winner, taken No. 1 overall at the 2026 NFL Draft, said professional duties in Vegas take priority over celebrating with Donald Trump
Mendoza reaped the reward of his stellar season by being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft
In addition to Mendoza, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr was chosen in the first round with the 30th overall pick by the New York Jets.
The Hoosiers had a program-record eight players selected in last week’s draft.
In addition to Mendoza in Cooper, D’Angelo Ponds (2nd round, Jets), Kaelon Black (3rd round, 49ers), Elijah Sarratt (4th round, Ravens), Riley Nowakowski (5th round, Steelers), Pat Coogan (6th round, Titans) and Aiden Fisher (7th round, Texans) were all selected.
Indiana became the second 16-0 national champion in college football history, joining Yale’s 1894 championship-winning team.
