Jimmy Kimmel's Clever Trophy Prank for UCLA Women's Basketball Champions
In a humorous segment on his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel found a witty way to poke fun at former President Donald Trump. Following their historic NCAA championship victory, Kimmel invited members of UCLA's women's basketball team onto his program and presented them with a playful gift designed for a potential White House visit.
A Loaded Question and a Joking Response
During the interview with players Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalic, and head coach Cori Close, Kimmel asked if Trump had acknowledged their win, referencing the team's first-ever NCAA women's basketball title. The question carried weight, given Trump's past controversies with women's sports teams and his general treatment of women.
When the UCLA women responded that they had heard nothing from Trump, Kimmel quipped, "He's busy, in two weeks you'll hear from him," alluding to Trump's ceasefire deal with Iran. He then proposed a plan for if they were invited to the White House, gesturing to their actual NCAA championship trophy on his desk and advising, "Do not bring this to the White House."
The Fake Trophy and the "Old Switcheroo"
Instead, Kimmel offered the team a counterfeit trophy to take, joking that Trump wouldn't notice the difference. "He's not going to know," Kimmel said, adding, "But when you bring a trophy, he sometimes takes it and keeps it for himself." He explained the strategy: "So this is for you guys to take to the White House, and then you can say, 'President Trump, we want you to have this.' And he'll be so happy, you'll probably get an endowment. And you'll be able to keep the real one! It's called the old switcheroo."
Background on Trump and Trophies
Kimmel's prank referenced a real incident from August 2025, when soccer fans were surprised to learn that the 24-karat gold FIFA World Cup trophy was not with Chelsea F.C., the winning team, but displayed in Trump's Oval Office. Trump claimed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had asked him to care for the trophy, valued at approximately $230,000, during a White House visit and said it could remain there permanently. This history added context to Kimmel's playful warning about Trump's tendency to retain awards.
The segment highlighted the ongoing cultural and political tensions surrounding Trump's interactions with sports teams, while celebrating UCLA's athletic achievement in a lighthearted manner.
