“Proud to meet a rapist”: Jeremiah Smith faces backlash after shaking hands with Donald Trump

You'd think a visit to the White House would be a moment of pride, right? Not for Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. After shaking hands with former President Donald Trump during a team visit, Smith is now facing a wave of backlash from Buckeye fans who feel deeply betrayed. The handshake wasn’t just a formality, it became a political statement, and for many in Buckeye Nation, it was the wrong one.

“This ain’t it, bruh”: Ohio State fans turn on Jeremiah Smith after Trump handshake sparks backlash

Jeremiah Smith, one of the most highly touted freshman recruits in the country, joined his Ohio State teammates for a trip to the White House, a tradition for top college football programs. But what should've been a ceremonial moment went south quickly when video footage showed Smith shaking Donald Trump’s hand. Within hours, the clip was all over social media, and fans weren't thrilled.

Buckeye fans didn’t hold back, calling out Jeremiah Smith for his choice








What Smith’s moment proves is that for college athletes, every public move is now under a microscope. Fans don’t just want performance on the field, they expect their players to align with personal values. The intersection of sports and politics has always been tricky, but now it's unavoidable. A simple handshake turned into a referendum on character.

And it’s not the first time. We've seen similar uproars when athletes interact with controversial political figures. But for young players like Smith, who may not have considered the political weight of the moment, the consequences are swift and brutal.

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As of now, Smith hasn’t issued any statement about the handshake or the criticism. But the fan response has already drawn lines in the sand. Whether this storm dies down or continues to follow him will depend on how he performs and whether he chooses to address the backlash head-on. For now, though, Buckeye Nation has made one thing clear: politics and football are more tangled than ever.




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