{"id":48813,"date":"2025-05-22T01:42:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T01:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/48813\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T01:42:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T01:42:14","slug":"donald-trump-dwarfed-by-7-foot-9-college-basketball-player-olivier-rioux-in-the-oval-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/48813\/","title":{"rendered":"Donald Trump dwarfed by 7-foot-9 college basketball player Olivier Rioux in the Oval Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JAKE NISSE<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 19:19 EDT, 21 May 2025 | Updated: 19:31 EDT, 21 May 2025 <\/p>\n

President Donald Trump<\/a> marveled at Florida<\/a>‘s 7-foot-9 center Olivier Rioux on Wednesday as the Florida Gators visited the White House<\/a> to celebrate their national championship.<\/p>\n

Rioux towered over Trump as they met in the Oval Office, with the President taking note of the 19-year-old’s incredible height.<\/p>\n

‘To be that tall, I think it’s great,’ Trump said.<\/p>\n

As seen in a video from White House communications advisor Margo Martin<\/a>, the pair then shook hands before they posed for a photo.<\/p>\n

Trump also asked if Rioux – who did not play in the Gators’ national championship game win over Houston – was a good player, before someone off-camera said he was ‘getting there.’<\/p>\n

The president then said of Rioux’s height: ‘Boy what a big advantage, huh?’\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Olivier <\/p>\n

Olivier Rioux towered over President Donald Trump as they posed for a photo in the Oval Office<\/p>\n

\"Florida <\/p>\n

Florida center Rioux, who did not play this past season, is listed at a huge 7-foot-9<\/p>\n

Trump later spoke in the East Room with the Gators gathered behind him, as he and coach Todd Golden held up a ‘Trump 47’ Florida jersey for a picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rioux, who is also listed at 305 pounds on the Gators’ roster<\/a>, did not see the court this season as he took a redshirt season.<\/p>\n

The Quebec native supposedly stood at a massive 6-foot-1 by age eight, and 6-foot-11 by sixth grade.<\/p>\n

He watched from the bench on April 7 as Florida eked out a 65-63 win over Houston.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trump has welcomed a bevvy of sports champions since his return to office in January.<\/p>\n

The Super Bowl champion Eagles visited<\/a> on April 28, with the Ohio State Buckeyes football team visiting a couple weeks prior on April 14.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers also visited earlier that month on April 7, with Trump even bestowing a gift to Shohei Ohtani<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Trump has also invited the Chiefs to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl win in 2020, as they were unable to visit him due to the Covid pandemic.<\/p>\n

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