WATCH: President Donald Trump severely botches Tua Tagovailoa's name

by: Alex Byington • 58 minutes ago • _AlexByington

Apr 10, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; President Donald Trump (M) poses with Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban a(M-R) and members of the Crimson Tide a ceremony honoring the college football playoff champion Crimson Tide on the South Lawn at the White House. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Turns out even presidents have trouble pronouncing Tua Tagovailoa ‘s Hawaiian last name.

During a Thursday afternoon press conference announcing the reinstatment of the defunct Presidential Fitness Test, President Donald Trump names the Miami Dolphins ‘ quarterback among other NFL representatives to a newly-created council full of professional athletes to help with the endeavor.

“Saquon Barkley is on the council, and Tua Tagovailoa (pronounces it as tag-O-valiah), the quarterback who is … really he’s been fantastic, … when he’s not injured. He’s got to stay healthy,” Trump said in a clip posted to X/Twitter by @Acyn. “And he’s a great guy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is on the commission, (along with) NHL commissioner Gary Bettman …”

Check out the full clip below:

Trump: Tua Tagovailo— he’s been fantastic. When he’s not injured, he’s great. pic.twitter.com/8UzzE4hyqj

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2025

Tagovailoa, whose surname is pronounced “tun-go-val-oa,” is a longtime supporter of the president, and even visited the White House in April 2018 when the 2017 national champion Alabama Crimson Tide were honored. The veteran Dolphins quarterback also been a frequent visitor to Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago in South Florida the past several offseasons.

The Presidential Fitness Test, which was implemented in the 1950s until 2013 when it was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program before Thursday’s executive order, is a national fitness testing program conducted in U.S. public middle and high schools, with a focus on anthropometric measurments such as lung capacity and strength assessments.

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