--- title: Rob Gronkowski at Sean Spicer Press Briefing VIDEO, reaction description: A viral video of Rob Gronkowski 's surprise appearance at a White House Press Briefing inspired memes. canonical: https://time.com/4746773/rob-gronkowski-white-house-sean-spicer-reaction/ author: Ashley Hoffman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-04-19T17:42:34.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T08:46:32.871Z og:title: Rob Gronkowski Crashed the White House Press Briefing og:description: The internet is going to town on jokes about the athlete's offer for Spicer og:url: https://time.com/4746773/rob-gronkowski-white-house-sean-spicer-reaction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0c33eae06e5993f8/6988c396fb4eac26a8891994/gettyimages-664180764.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3960 og:image:height: 2228 og:image:alt: Pittsburgh Pirates v Boston Red Sox og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Rob Gronkowski Crashed the White House Press Briefing twitter:description: The internet is going to town on jokes about the athlete's offer for Spicer twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0c33eae06e5993f8/6988c396fb4eac26a8891994/gettyimages-664180764.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Rob Gronkowski Crashed the White House Press Briefing, and the Internet Loved It > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=9fb3775d-2d61-4a0c-ba76-46b95db6baeb&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Rob Gronkowski Crashed the White House Press Briefing, and the Internet Loved It [Watch (HLS stream): Rob Gronkowski Crashed the White House Press Briefing, and the Internet Loved It](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9m0SiseJ.m3u8) (0:23)  _Published 2017-04-19. Just weeks after crashing a professional wrestling match at WrestleMania 33, New England Patriots star tight end popped in at a very different kind of fight: The daily White House press briefing._ by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Apr 19, 2017 5:42 PM UTC Just weeks after crashing a professional wrestling match at WrestleMania 33, New England Patriots star tight end popped in at a very different kind of fight: The daily White House press briefing. by [Ashley Hoffman](https://time.com/author/ashley-hoffman/) ## Ashley Hoffman Apr 19, 2017 5:42 PM UTC It wasn’t quite [WrestleMania](http://time.com/4662514/watch-live-new-england-patriots-super-bowl-2017-victory-parade-boston/), but it was close. Just weeks after crashing a professional wrestling match at WrestleMania 33, New England Patriots star tight end popped in at a very different kind of fight: The daily [White House press briefing](http://time.com/4742596/sean-spicer-easter-reading/). “You need some help?” Rob Gronkowski asked [Press Secretary Sean Spicer](http://time.com/4742596/sean-spicer-easter-reading/) on Wednesday, drawing laughs. “I think I got this, but thank you,” Spicer answered. After Gronkowski popped out, Spicer, who appeared genuinely surprised by Gronkowski’s appearance, cracked a smile. “All right. That was cool,” he said. Naturally Spicer’s reaction to the athlete’s entrance and the Gronkowski-ness of it all combined to create some memes. The internet is often quick to hop on Spicer’s moments, but with Gronkowski tacked on, people were particularly excited about the joke opportunities. > [](https://twitter.com/Ed%5FDemaria/status/854737238156075008) > [](https://twitter.com/CahnEmily/status/854737311455731712) > [](https://twitter.com/dwallbank/status/854736904201400321) > [](https://twitter.com/hunterschwarz/status/854736992533446657) > [](https://twitter.com/TalKopan/status/854736756666753025) The New England Patriots, 2017’s Super Bowl champions met with President Donald Trump for a ceremonial visit, though Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty said [they would not attend](http://time.com/4661940/new-england-patriots-devin-mccourty-white-house-donald-trump/) as part of a political statement. ## Transcript We'll see what pans out in the negotiation, but I think there's an opportunity that. Can I just? Need some help? [ LAUGH ] I think I got this but thank you. Are you sure? Maybe. All right I'll let you. All right thanks man I'll see you in a minute. [ LAUGH ] Hang on one sec. That was cool. 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