Oliver Henry, a 26-year-old England football fan from Portsmouth, was invited to the White House in Washington, D.C., where he attended President Donald Trump’s speech at the opening of the Great American State Fair on June 24. Following the event, Henry was given the opportunity to meet the president backstage, marking a unique moment for the visitor during the ongoing international football tournament.

Henry’s invitation came after his TikTok videos depicting his positive experiences in the United States gained significant attention. His clips, which challenged common stereotypes about American hospitality, were reshared by the official White House TikTok account, which has nearly 7 million followers. In one video, Henry remarked, “We owe America a huge apology, because America is nothing like the media tells us, everyone is so friendly, everyone is so accommodating.”

The AI professional initially traveled to the U.S. to attend England’s first match in Dallas, having received a ticket from a friend. Since then, he has documented his journey on social media, attracting a majority U.S.-based audience among his 23,000 followers. To support his stay through the tournament, Henry launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised approximately £20,000.

Henry recounted receiving a direct message from the White House on Instagram, inviting him to the state fair event. “Obviously you don’t believe it because it came in as a message request on Instagram,” he said. When he asked if he would meet the president, the response was affirmative. During Trump’s address, Henry was called backstage for a photo and a brief conversation with the president, which he described as “very friendly and polite.” Trump acknowledged having seen Henry’s videos prior to the meeting.

This encounter highlights the growing influence of social media in facilitating engagement between public figures and ordinary individuals, particularly in the context of cultural and sporting events that draw international audiences to the United States.