Donald Trump joked that his son Barron now “respects his father a little more” after meeting soccer megastar Cristiano Ronaldo at the White House on Tuesday.
At a dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump told guests: “This room is full of the greatest leaders in the world, business and sports. My son is a big fan of Ronaldo, wherever Ronaldo is, and Barron has had the opportunity to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just from the fact that I introduced you.”
“So I want to thank you both for being here,” he added.
It is unclear what 19-year-old Barron, a devoted soccer fan, and the 40-year-old billionaire Portuguese athlete discussed, or whether the president talked.
After playing for European giants Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United, striker Ronaldo joined Saudi club Al Nassr in 2023 as the big face of the Saudi Pro League.
The league has attracted top players with huge contracts As part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to diversify its economy through sports and tourism, a strategy widely dismissed by critics as “sports washing.”
In a recent interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Ronaldo said he hoped to “one day” meet Trump because of his importance, while also claiming to be more famous worldwide than the president.
