President Trump pays tribute to national champion Clemson

WASHINGTON — President Trump paid tribute to the national champion Clemson Tigers on Monday at the White House, calling their victory in the College Football Playoff title game "one of the greatest games I’ve ever watched."

The Tigers earned their trip to the White House by defeating Alabama 35-31 Jan. 9 to claim their second national title.

“You believed in yourself, you believed in each other,” he said. “You won a championship game for the ages. ... People are going to be talking about what you did for a very long time.”

Ten members of the championship team have since signed with NFL teams. Though many were not able to attend because of the start of minicamps Tuesday, Texans owner Bob McNair flew DeShaun Watson and Carlos Watkins to D.C. on his private plane. Trump thanked McNair, who was in the crowd watching, for allowing those two players to attend.

The mood was light, and politics were set aside for the afternoon. Trump and coach Dabo Swinney joked that they expected the Tigers to be on the South Lawn last year, but they fell to Alabama in the title game.

During the ceremony, Swinney spoke to his 2016 team one last time, reminding them to always do the little things right.

“Life is truly about how we live between the moments,” he said. “That's really what it comes down to. Its treating others the right way. Its treating others with kindness.”

Trump was presented with a white Clemson jersey, No. 1, and his son Barron was given an orange one, before they paraded off to the sound of the Clemson fight song.

The Tigers carried on the tradition of visiting the White House after winning a national championship that dates to 1976, despite the turmoil that surrounds the President. The Tigers will spend the rest of the day in D.C. before heading back to Clemson later tonight.

“It's our honor to be in the company of great, great champions. And that's what you are,” Trump said. “I wish you all the best in your careers, wherever they may take you. Whether its football, business or anything else, you are going to be very successful. If you work hard, fight hard and believe in yourself, perhaps I’ll see some of you one day back here, right at the White House.”

CLEMSON VISITS THE WHITE HOUSE