- The Washington Times - Monday, March 4, 2019

Proving he’s a stickler for tradition, President Trump feted the North Dakota State football team with fast-food feast Monday in a White House celebration of its title-winning season in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Not to be outdone by the Clemson Tigers, who won college football’s top-tier championship, the Bison were greeted in the State Dining Room by piles of french fries, Chick-fil-A sandwiches and Big Macs after their trophy-winning victory over Eastern Washington on Jan. 5.

It was their second championship in a row and seventh in eight years in the division that used to be known as “Division I-AA.”

“You should all be incredibly proud,” Mr. Trump told the squad.

Mr. Trump made waves in mid-January when he celebrated Clemson with piles of fast food that he purchased with his own money.

The visit occurred in the middle of a government shutdown over funding for Mr. Trump’s border wall, so much of the White House catering staff was furloughed.

The government’s back open, but Mr. Trump stuck to his high-calorie menu, saying it’s people-pleasing stuff made by American companies.

“I know you people,” he told the players.

Quarterback Easton Stick presented Mr. Trump with a jersey numbered “45.”

Mr. Trump praised him, saying he’s “got the look,” like Tom Brady.

“Somebody better draft him. He’s going to be a rich guy,” the president said.

North Dakota’s delegation from Capitol Hill — Sen. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Rep. Kelly Armstrong — joined the festivities along with North Dakota first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum and state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.

Mr. Trump did take a somber break from the revelry to recognize Alabamans suffering in the wake of tornadoes that killed over 20 people over the weekend.

“It was just terrible … that path was brutal,” he said, adding: “Whatever we can do, we’re doing.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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