The American newspaper "New York Post" highlighted a notable aspect of the evening, mentioning that Trump used Ronaldo's presence to express how much his son Barron admired the Portuguese star, describing the meeting as a personal moment for the President. Its coverage stated: "Barron met him. And I think he respects his father a little more now, just because I introduced him to you." The American paper also focused on this being Ronaldo's first appearance in the US since old accusations dating back to 2009 spread, which, according to their coverage, adds another dimension to the player's return to American soil after an eleven-year absence.
The "Associated Press" took a different angle, noting Ronaldo as one of the prominent figures present in the East Room alongside top personalities including Tim Cook and Elon Musk. Trump personally welcomed him, introducing him to his teenage son. "Associated Press" also reminded that since 2022, Ronaldo has been the prominent face of Saudi football, and his high-value recent contract extension reflects his central role in the kingdom’s football development project. They also emphasized that his appearance in Washington coincides with Saudi Arabia's strong presence in the global sports arena, especially after officially securing the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.
The Spanish newspaper "Marca" dedicated extensive space to analyzing the symbolism of the visit, noting it was Ronaldo’s first documented entry to the US since Real Madrid's 2014 tour. It wrote: "Cristiano Ronaldo was received at the White House by President Donald Trump. The Portuguese player, accompanied by his wife Georgina, was welcomed like a star inside one of the most symbolic buildings in the world." "Marca" mentioned that this visit dismissed many rumors about Ronaldo’s refusal to enter the United States in recent years and considered that his appearance alongside Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman places him at the heart of the political and sports scene linked to the kingdom and its future vision. It also highlighted his anticipated participation in his sixth World Cup and the possible suspension following his recent red card with the Portuguese national team.
The Spanish newspaper "AS" covered the protocol side of the event, focusing on Ronaldo’s presence among the guests of honor alongside Elon Musk and Tim Cook. It wrote: "Football star Cristiano Ronaldo, player for Saudi club Al Nassr, dined with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House." It also quoted Ronaldo expressing hope for a "nice talk" with Trump about "world peace," considering it a sign of the player evolving into a figure of influence beyond sports. The paper highlighted Trump's famous comment during the evening: "Now that Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived, I think my son respects his father a little more," noting that the sentence caused an uproar on social media and sparked discussion about the player's global status.
In parallel coverage by the Turkish media, the newspaper "Daily Sabah" reported extensively about Ronaldo’s position in the East Room and his growing role in the Saudi sports scene, affirming that his presence alongside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reflects the "new diplomatic dimension of football." The paper stated: "Cristiano Ronaldo adds presidential glamour during his presence at the White House dinner."
Italian media also joined the scene, with newspapers like "La Repubblica" publishing short pieces confirming that "Ronaldo is attending the Trump and Crown Prince meeting at the White House," noting that he will participate this summer in the United States in his sixth World Cup finals, before becoming "the biggest symbol of the 2034 edition to be held in Riyadh
