WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump pays homage to the 2025 NCAA basketball champion Florida Gators at the White House on Wednesday, claiming that “fewer teams will collapse” was a victory in its Nails Championship Game.

"It looks bad," Trump said, noting that Houston led by as many as 12 points in a game at Florida, winning 65-63 in San Antonio in April. "Do you think you'll win?"

Florida (36-4) won four wins in March’s Crazy Victory. The Gators led the finale for a total of 64 seconds, including the last 46 ticking of a game until the last sequence.

Trump tells the story of Alijah Martin taking two free throws, leaving the Gators with 46.5 seconds left and asked if Martin was nervous.

"Several teams will collapse," the president said.

Florida won the third championship of the program in basketball, and Trump noted that it is the only school to have an NCAA title in the sport and football game. When the Gator basketball team won NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007, the team visited President George W. Bush at the White House.

Wednesday's East Room ceremony was characterized by senior Florida government leaders, including Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump mentioned Rubio and said, "There are no bigger Florida fans."

Florida's Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as various House members from state and former Florida football standout Tim Tebow, are out there too. Trump described Tebow as "a college player, perhaps the best ever" and said that despite Tebow's career in the NFL's New York Jets, he is a loyal fan.

The team gave Trump a signed basketball and No. 47 jersey, with his name behind. The president also praised the Gators’ 39-year-old coach Todd Golden, who was jokingly “Great” and “Young,” “boy, I want to be his agent.”

Last year, President Joe Biden held a joint ceremony to commemorate the 2024 NCAA men's and women's basketball championships in honor of South Carolina and Connecticut.

Since taking office in January, Trump has hosted a series of championship teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, which won the Super Bowl. His April ceremony with NCAA football champion Ohio State Buckeyes at Rose Garden is best for Ohio State graduates and Buckeyes fans Vice President JD Vance, who groped through the team’s championship trophy.