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Tua Tagovailoa reacts to President Donald Trump botching his name, does impression

by: Alex Byington08/06/25_AlexByington
Tua

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:

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.

“Saquon Barkley is on the council, and Tua Tagovailoa (pronounces it as tag-O-voll-iah), 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 …”

Tagovailoa 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.

Saquon Barkley turns down invitation from President Donald Trump, ‘shocked’ at being included

Saquon Barkley turned down an invitation from President Donald Trump to be on his council concerning sports, fitness and nutrition. Barkley said he was shocked when he heard his name mentioned in the first place.

“A couple months ago it was brought to my team about the council. So I’m not really too familiar with it,” Barkley said after practice at the NovaCare facility. “I felt like I am going to be super busy so me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that. I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I’m assuming it’s something great so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned.”

Trump signed an executive order establishing the aforementioned presidential council, which advises the and recommends actions on a number of fronts that include school-based athletic programs. Those programs reward excellence in physical education, fitness goals for American youth and strategies to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test.

“The council will consist of up to 30 members, per the executive order,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote. “During a press conference announcing the order, President Trump named Barkley as a member of the council along with a group that includes NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, fellow football players including Nick Bosa, Tua Tagovailoa, Harrison Butker, Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, as well as retired legends Jack Nicklaus and Wayne Gretzky and current LIV Tour golfer Bryson DeChambeau.”

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.