Trump ordered a lot of burgers and pizza for the Clemson football team, joked about his wife and salads

Trump with his catering for the Clemson Tigers

(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 4 February 2019

President Trump hosted Clemson University's champion football team on Monday night, and he served them pizza and burgers, along with fries and some salads. "The president wanted to host a fun event to celebrate the College Football National Champion Clemson Tigers," Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told CNN, noting that because of the partial government shutdown, "much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed — so the president is personally paying for the event to be catered with some of everyone's favorite fast foods."

Trump himself made the same point. "Because of the shutdown, you know we have the great Clemson team with us, the national champions," he told reporters. "So we went out and we ordered American fast food, paid for by me." Along with furloughs, a snowstorm has also kept away much of the White House residential staff, who would normally cater such events. You can get a look at the spread in the video below.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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