Legendary English footballer and former Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney had an interesting chapter in his life when he crossed paths with former US President Donald Trump. During his tenure with the Major Leagues Soccer (MLS) team DC 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 an actual round Golf with TrumpRudy Giuliani and a security force, Rooney’s time in the United States was anything but ordinary.
White House Invitational: 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 DC United, where he scored 25 goals in 52 appearances, reviving the team and cementing his reputation as a global soccer icon. During a visit to the White House, Rooney met Donald Trump, who expressed 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 DC United’s youth team. Trump saw an opportunity for his son to learn from one of the game’s best. Rooney described the moment with humour: “He asked me to give his son football lessons. Barron then said, ‘Do you want to see my dad?’ He took me to the Oval Office and that’s where it all started.Barron is also pictured wearing an Arsenal kit, one of Manchester United’s biggest rivals.
A unique invitation was given after the Oval Office meeting. Trump’s personal assistant sent Rooney a text suggesting a game of golf. The spontaneity of the situation led Rooney to 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. Among the tourists were Trump, Giuliani and a security detail so extensive it resembled a military operation. “The most amazing thing about it was the Giuliani in the buggy behind us, then about 50-100 golf buggies that were all security,” Rooney shared. “There was a boat with snipers in the lake, snipers in the bushes – it was crazy!”
The surreal nature of the experience was not lost on Rooney, who jokingly commented on how a boy from Liverpool’s Croxteth estate ended up golfing with the US president. Neville added his own humor to the retelling, teasing Rooney about whether Trump could understand his Scouse accent and joking that it may have been the first time someone from Liverpool had set foot in the Oval Office.
Coleen Rooney’s take on Trump
While Wayne was engaged to Trump on the golf course and in the Oval Office, his wife Colleen had her own impression of the former president. I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! During her appearance on , Coleen shared anecdotes from her time in Washington, including Trump’s infamous comment about footballers attracting beautiful women. Recalling the moment, she said, “He said to his son, ‘See? Told you, all soccer players get pretty girls.'” Privately, Colin thought, “Dirty b******!”
Colin also noted Trump’s striking orange complexion, confirming a long-running 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 meetings with Trump and his family added an unexpected dimension to his MLS journey. The former England captain’s move to DC United was already an important chapter in his illustrious career, as he helped rejuvenate the team and inspired American audiences with his football skills. Still, it was the personal interactions — Barron’s coaching, golfing with Trump and navigating a security-filled 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 is known globally, was still growing in popularity in the US, figures like Rooney brought star power and skill to the game, even attracting the attention of the president.