![[US, Mexico, & Canada customers only] Mar 5, 2026; Washington, DC, UNITED STATES; U.S. President Donald Trump is gifted a jewelled soccer ball with his signature on it from Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi, on the day he honors reigning Major League Soccer (MLS) champion Inter Miami CF players and team officials with an event in the East Room of the White House.](https://statico.profootballnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/06123551/javier-mascherano-lifts-lid-lionel-03-06-26-1920x1260.jpg "Javier Mascherano Lifts Lid on Lionel Messi and Inter Miami’s Donald Trump Encounter")
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi and his teammates were welcomed by President Donald Trump in the East Room at the White House on Thursday, Mar. 5. Now, Herons boss Javier Mascherano has opened up on his squad’s meeting with the 79-year-old.
Javier Mascherano Discusses Inter Miami’s White House Visit
During a Zoom interview with reporters on Friday morning, Mascherano was asked to share his two cents on Inter Miami’s visit to the White House to celebrate the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup win. He shed light on the protocol his squad had to follow.
“I thought we were going to talk football. We complied with a protocol that is a tradition to come to the White House for being the championship team. It was planned a long time ago for the week we would play here in Washington,” Mascherano responded.
“We were there a few hours, got to see a little bit of the White House… not much, what we could. The contact with President Trump was what was seen on television, not much more than that,” the former Barcelona, Liverpool, and River Plate star continued.
Mascherano, who was congratulated by Trump for guiding the Herons to their first MLS Cup title, was also asked how his team managed the recent distraction from soccer.
“The White House visit was planned between one month-a-half and two months ago. Maybe the Puerto Rico trip (for the delayed friendly contest against Independiente del Valle) got in the way a little bit because it was supposed to be in the pre-season but we had to fulfill the obligation but the reality is other than yesterday, which has nothing to do with our sporting side, the rest is travel,” Mascherano, who played alongside Messi 414 times, replied.
READ MORE:Â Donald Trump Comments About Lionel Messi Choosing Inter Miami
The Inter Miami boss continued, “I choose to see the trips as a positive because the players are together more… we can share more things that in the day-to-day in Miami we don’t get to do. That helps us have a good atmosphere within the team, and at the end of the day, if we can take advantage of that, it will be very good (for our on-pitch performances).”
Inter Miami, who have won three trophies under Messi’s leadership, started their 2026 MLS season with a 3-0 defeat at Los Angeles FC (LAFC) on Feb. 21. However, they bounced back in their domestic league with a 4-2 away win at Orlando City last Sunday, Mar. 1.
Messi’s team will remain in the region as they take on D.C. United this Saturday, Mar. 7, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
