Wayne Rooney, the legendary English footballer and former captain of Manchester United and England, had a fascinating chapter in his life when he crossed paths with former U.S. President Donald Trump. During his stint with Major League Soccer (MLS) team D.C. United from 2018 to 2020, Rooney not only made an impact on the pitch but also found himself in the company of one of the world’s most polarizing political figures.From coaching Trump’s son Barron to playing a surreal round of golf with Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and a security entourage, Rooney’s time in the United States was anything but ordinary.
A White House Invitation: Meeting Barron Trump
In 2018, Rooney and his family were invited to the White House for a Christmas event. This coincided with his tenure at D.C. United, where he scored 25 goals in 52 appearances, revitalizing the team and solidifying his reputation as a global soccer icon. During the White House visit, the Rooneys met Donald Trump, who expressed an interest in having Rooney coach his youngest son, Barron.
At the time, Barron, then 12 years old, was an avid soccer fan and reportedly played for D.C. United’s youth team. Trump saw an opportunity for his son to learn from one of the best in the game. Rooney recounted the moment with humor: “He asked me to give his son football lessons. Barron then said, ‘Do you want to see my dad?’ He took me up to the Oval Office, and that’s where it all began.” Barron has also been pictured wearing an Arsenal kit, one of Manchester United’s greatest rivals.
The Oval Office meeting was followed by a unique invitation. Trump’s personal assistant texted Rooney, suggesting a game of golf. The spontaneity of the situation led Rooney into an unforgettable experience with the former president.
A ‘Mad’ Round of Golf with Trump
Describing the golf outing during an appearance on The Overlap podcast with Gary Neville, Rooney painted a vivid picture of the day. The entourage included Trump, Giuliani, and a security detail so extensive it resembled a military operation. “The maddest thing about it was we had Giuliani in the buggy behind us, then there were about 50-100 golf buggies that were all security,” Rooney shared. “There was a boat in the lake with snipers, snipers in the bushes—it was insane!”
The surreal nature of the experience was not lost on Rooney, who humorously remarked on how a lad from Liverpool’s Croxteth estate ended up golfing with the U.S. president. Neville added his own humor to the retelling, teasing Rooney about whether Trump could understand his Scouse accent and joking that it might have been the first time someone from Liverpool had stepped into the Oval Office.
Coleen Rooney’s Take on the Trumps
While Wayne engaged with Trump on the golf course and in the Oval Office, his wife Coleen had her own impressions of the former president. During her appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Coleen shared anecdotes from their time in Washington, including Trump’s infamous comment about footballers attracting beautiful women. Recalling the moment, she said, “He told his son, ‘See? Told ya, all the soccer players get the good-looking girls.’” Privately, Coleen thought, “Dirty b******!”
Coleen also noted Trump’s strikingly orange complexion, confirming the long-standing joke about his tan. Her candid recounting of the encounter provided a humorous counterpoint to the otherwise surreal experience of being invited into the president’s world.
A Brush with History
For Rooney, these encounters with Trump and his family added an unexpected dimension to his MLS journey. The former England captain’s move to D.C. United was already a significant chapter in his illustrious career, as he helped rejuvenate the team and inspired American audiences with his footballing prowess. Yet, it was the personal interactions—coaching Barron, golfing with Trump, and navigating a security-laden day on the greens—that left a lasting impression.
These experiences also underscored the unique cultural exchange between football and the broader American landscape. While soccer, or “football” as it’s known globally, was still growing in popularity in the US, figures like Rooney brought star power and expertise to the game, even drawing the attention of the president.
