Remarks by President Trump Welcoming the 2018 Division I FCS National Champions, North Dakota State Bison | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    East Room  •  March 4, 2019  •  12:14 P.M. EST

President Trump with the North Dakota State University Bisons: Above. (White House photo)     Click image to expand.
    THE PRESIDENT: It's a lot of big people I'm standing next to. (Laughter.) These are big, strong, powerful champions, right?

    SENATOR CRAMER: That's right.

    THE PRESIDENT: All champions. Well, I just want to thank everybody for being here. And we're very excited to welcome to the White House the 2018 FCS National Champions, the North Dakota State University Bison. And that's with a "Z". You know, I spell (inaudible) - (laughter and applause). I actually took the "S" out, and I just put the "Z", because I didn't want to -


    SENATOR HOEVEN: You know how to say it. Yep, you know how to say it.

    THE PRESIDENT: They said, "Sir, make sure you have it with a Z."

    Anyway, the First Lady, as you know, she's out working very hard - the BE BEST campaign - all throughout the country, for children. It's something very, very important to her, so she sends her warmest regards.

    And the Clemson Tigers - I don't know, they're pretty good, aren't they, huh? They're pretty good. Could you guys take them? Huh? What do you think? (Laughter.) I think - I've looked at your record. You'd have a heck of a shot, right?

    SENATOR HOEVEN: Go, Bison.

    THE PRESIDENT: Well, they were here. And, you know, when - your two great senators and a couple of others - but these two guys, they really said, "Would it be possible to do this for this team?" And I said - you know, I watched your championship game. I said, "Those guys are good. They deserve it. They really deserve it." You are special.

    So it's an honor to have your representatives and your - by the way, and your new congressional representative. It's a great honor. Great. Thank you. Come here, let me shake your hand. Congratulations on a nice win.

    REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG: Thank you.

    THE PRESIDENT: One congressman, two senators, huh?

    SENATOR HOEVEN: Our First Lady, Kathryn.

    THE PRESIDENT: And very important. How are you? Nice to see you. Absolutely. Good. Thank you. Say hello. Say hello to the Governor.

    MRS. BURGUM: I will.

    THE PRESIDENT: So I want to thank everybody. But before we begin, I'd like to start by sending our love and prayers to the incredible people of Alabama - incredible state, unbelievable people - and everyone affected by the catastrophic storms that struck the Gulf states yesterday. A town, schools, churches, and homes were devastated by tornadoes of a force like we haven't seen in a long time. Historic.

    Our whole nation mourns for the more than 20 lives lost and for the heartbroken families they leave behind. I got reports on it this morning, and it was absolute devastation. It was - it was just terrible. You look at the areas affected, and probably nobody made it out of that path. That path was brutal.

    To the community of Lee County, we grieve by your side and we pledge our unwavering support to help you rebuild from the very depths of this horrible tragedy. This morning, I spoke with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey - a friend of mine, a tremendous governor, tremendous person. And I've directed FEMA to provide immediate assistance to the great state of Alabama. They're in there in full force. And whatever we can do, we're doing. They're already there. They got there last night.

    It's at times like this it's more important than ever to be close with the ones we love, and to cherish our friends and our family, and to unite as one nation. We're here to recognize amazing achievements of truly an amazing group of young skilled athletes and great Americans, but I just had to say that.

    And I know everybody standing with me here - all great Americans - I know you feel the same way. So we're with the people of Alabama and the surrounding area.

    To the entire Bison team: Congratulations on winning this incredible season; it's really a season. You had great games, but this is a season. Seventh title in eight years. We should be able to do that, senators, huh? (Laughter.)

    SENATORS: Yeah. (Laughter.) Right.

    SENATOR CRAMER: Not tired of winning, I can tell you that.


    THE PRESIDENT: The most championships in FCS. That's right, you never get tired of winning, do you? Do you ever get tired? I don't think so.

    SENATOR CRAMER: I don't. Not me. Not these guys.

    THE PRESIDENT: Not these guys, that's for sure. But think of it: It's the seventh title in eight years. And you have some great football teams in that program - I know that - in that group. And you should all be incredibly proud. To Coach Matt Entz - where is Coach? Coach.

    COACH ENTZ: Right here, sir.

    THE PRESIDENT: Would you look at the way he stands back there? Hi, Coach.

    SENATOR HOEVEN: He's a big dude.

    THE PRESIDENT: He's a big guy. Get over here with me, Coach. Come on over here. Come here, Coach. Get over here. (Applause.) I want to be near (inaudible). We want some of that to rub off on us, right?

    And to Matt Larsen - where's Matt Larsen? Where's Matt? Where is he? Get over here, Matt. Get over here. Did you pick the right coach? I think so.

    MR. LARSEN: I think so. I think so.

    THE PRESIDENT: You picked the right everything, I have to say. I think you picked the right everything.

    Joining us are some of your biggest fans. You have a lot of fans. And I did watch - I got to watch a lot of that game. That was quite a game.

    Senator John Hoeven - been my friend for a long time, and I want to thank you. And you and Kevin called, and you said, "Can we do this?" I said - how long did it take me to say yes?

    SENATOR HOEVEN: Not very long.

    THE PRESIDENT: I actually said, "I saw the game." Okay? And it didn't take long, I can tell you. We also happen to love that state. Maybe I'd feel differently if it was someplace else, but it wasn't. A special place.

    So I want to thank John Hoeven; Senator Kevin Cramer, who has just come off a tremendous victory, and really, a tremendous victory. And thank you very much. Come here a minute. That was fantastic. Really fantastic.

    To Representative Kelly Armstrong: Way to go. Congratulations. That's a job well done.

    North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem - where is - hi, Wayne. Get over here, Wayne. Come here. Come here, Wayne. That's okay. Don't worry, you have more power than all of them. (Laughter.)

    And to North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum - and I really - it's great to see you. It's great to see you. Thank you very much, Kathryn.

    The Bison football team has achieved something truly remarkable. Through your grit, determination, and teamwork, you finished this season with a 15-0 record. But your biggest win of all was a stunning 38-24 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles. It was supposed to be a very good team. Were they good? What'd you think? Pretty good? Not as good as you guys, right? (Laughter.) Pretty good? Not bad, right?

    MR. LARSEN: Not bad.

    THE PRESIDENT: You started strong, scoring 10 unanswered points in the first quarter. Senior quarterback - I want to meet this guy - Easton Stick - that was some game - led the way with 198 passing yards - but that wasn't the big deal - three rushing touchdowns, and two passing touchdowns. And this past year, he broke the Bison's all-time touchdown passing record with seven games left in the season. That's not bad.

    Where is this guy? I want to - wow. He's got the look, too. He's got that look. (Laughter.) Tom Brady here. Are you Tom Brady? (Laughter.) He's got that whole - he's got that whole package.

    SENATOR HOEVEN: Absolutely. He's the real deal.


    THE PRESIDENT: You're the real deal, I'll tell you. I see that. That's great. Good luck. Good luck. What year are you in that (inaudible)? Are you going back or are you going to - what?

    MR. STICK: Just finished.

    THE PRESIDENT: You just finished?

    SENATOR HOEVEN: He just left the NFL combine to come here.

    THE PRESIDENT: I think somebody better draft him. (Laughter.)

    SENATOR HOEVEN: Count on it.