Ravens head coach John Harbaugh recently visited the Oval Office alongside his brother, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, to meet with former President Donald Trump. When Harbaugh faced the media for the first time since that visit, one question struck a nerve.
According to Sarah Ellison of the Ravens Vault podcast, a reporter brought up Trump’s past disparaging remarks about Baltimore, asking Harbaugh for his thoughts. The coach clearly took issue with how the question was framed.
“Why would you ask it that way?” Harbaugh replied. “A better way to frame it would’ve been, ‘You got the chance to visit the president—what was that like?’ Because it was awesome. It was a special moment. And I root for our president to succeed, just like I root for my quarterback and my team to succeed.”
Harbaugh went on to describe the visit as a powerful family experience, noting that his daughter, Jim’s daughters, and their parents were all there. He said seeing how Trump treated his mother was particularly meaningful.
The coach also reflected on other presidents he’s met: “That’s the fourth president I’ve met. Jim’s met seven. I’ve met President Obama twice, incredible. I also spent time with Vice President Biden in Iraq. Moments like those mean a lot.”
Of course, the question itself wasn’t out of line. In 2019, Trump infamously referred to Baltimore as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” where “no human being would want to live.” For a coach leading the city’s NFL team, being asked about that isn’t just fair—it’s expected.
Harbaugh had every right to decline or bristle at the question. But the question itself was fair game. Baltimore residents had every reason to take offense at the comment—and reporters are well within reason to seek accountability or perspective from public figures tied to the city.
Leave a Reply