by: Alex Byington 2 hours ago _AlexByington
A week after President Donald Trump completely botched the pronunciation of Tua Tagovailoa ‘s last name, the Miami Dolphins quarterback returned the favor in kind.
Tagovailoa — pronounced “tun-go-val-oa” — laughed off the President’s mispronunciation of his traditional Hawaiian surname following Wednesday’s preseason practice. The former Alabama QB even playfully included his own impression of Trump’s rather unique way of speaking during July 31’s announcement from the White House after signing an executive order expanding the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition to include Tagovailoa among other profressional athletes.
“I mean, I don’t think he’s had the worst (mispronunciation). I heard a couple worst (when I was) at Alabama,” Tagovailoa joked Wednesday. “But it is what it is. I don’t take that to heart. It is what it is.”
At this point, Tagovailoa breaks out his own impression of Trump: “ He’s a great guy. Phenominal guy. Just got to stay healthy . … All of that. I liked that. I enjoyed it.”
Check out Tagovailoa’s spot-on Trump impersonation of the President’s comments below:
Tua said being picked to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition is “an honor.”
Then he addressed President Trump butchering his name and offered a Trump impersonation.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) August 6, 2025
During a White House press conference last week announcing the reinstatment of the Presidential Fitness Test, Trump butchered the Dolphins ‘ quarterback’s last name while mentioning him among other NFL representatives to a newly-created council full of professional athletes to help with the endeavor.