President Donald Trump heralded Jayden Daniels as a ‘great quarterback’ after being gifted a custom Washington Commanders jersey by team owner Josh Harris at the White House
Matthew Neschis US Sports Reporter
20:02, 05 May 2025Updated 20:03, 05 May 2025
Donald Trump believes that Jayden Daniels is a ‘great quarterback'(Image: Getty Images)
President Donald Trump heaped praise on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels while announcing that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington D.C.
On Monday, Trump expressed excitement about hosting the draft – which will take place on the National Mall – while joined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Commanders team owner Josh Harris at the White House. The 78-year-old was additionally gifted a jersey despite previously voicing his disapproval of Washington’s team name.
“I’m pleased to reveal that the 2027 NFL Draft – that’s a big thing – will be held right here in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. on the National Mall,” Trump, who is on collision course with Saudi Arabia’s bold Alcatraz boxing plans, told reporters. “I was just saying to Roger, I don’t think there’s ever been anything like that.
“It’s going to be beautiful. It’s going to be something that nobody else will ever be able to duplicate, I don’t suspect.”
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Harris expressed a similar sentiment regarding the unprecedented nature of the 2027 NFL Draft before presenting Trump with his custom-made Commanders threads. “What a great day for Washington,” he said.
“To host the NFL Draft in 2027 on the Mall, I believe we’ll get over a million people. It’s gonna be an amazing day, and it will showcase what Washington’s all about, but it will also showcase what our country’s all about.
“President Trump, we leave on your desk a Trump jersey. You are the ultimate Commander so it is a Commanders jersey. There’s no bird on it,” Harris added, prompting a round of laughs.
“We appreciate you and thank you for everything you’ve done and look forward to the future.”
Commanders team owner Josh Harris presented Donald Trump with a custom jersey at the White House(Image: Getty Images)
Upon shaking Harris’ hand, Trump commended the billionaire for the recent turnaround of the Commanders franchise. After selecting Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Washington advanced to the NFC Championship game in the 2024-25 playoffs – where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles.
“I have to say, Josh had a very good draft a short while ago. You have a very good quarterback. A great quarterback, I think,” Trump said of Daniels, who was crowned the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after completing 331-of-480 passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Earlier in the White House visit, Goodell shed light on the immense popularity of NFL Draft – asserting that over one million fans will likely be in attendance when the annual event rolls into Washington D.C.
“We’re honored to be here in the Oval Office and to have you announce the 2027 NFL draft is a special treat, so thank you for your support,” he said.
“The draft has really become one of the great entertainment and sports events. Just a week ago in Green Bay, we had over 600,000 people attend. The year before in Detroit, we had close to 800,000.
“As the president remarked, we believe it will be well over a million when we come here to DC in 2027. So we not only believe it’s a great site, we believe it’s consistent with what the president said, which is investing in our communities, investing specifically here in the nation’s capital – one that I grew up here in Washington, D.C.”