Trump Prods Kansas City BBQ Restaurant Owner on Patrick Mahomes’ Status for Next Season

Patrick Mahomes, Donald Trump
Credit: PA Wire/PA Images via Getty; Win McNamee/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• President Donald Trump was looking for updates on Patrick Mahomes' recovery during a small business summit at the White House
• The president asked a Kansas City barbecue restaurant owner how the quarterback is doing after an ACL injury
• Joe Pearce, co-owner of Slap's BBQ, told Trump that Mahomes is "real close, real close" to playing

President Donald Trump grilled a Kansas City-area barbecue restaurant owner over the burning question every Chiefs fan wants answered. Will Patrick Mahomes be ready to go once the season kicks off in September?

"The most important thing, how's Mahomes doing?" Trump asked Slap's BBQ co-owner Joe Pearce who was attending a small business summit at the White House on Monday, May 4. "Is he okay?"

Pearce, who has co-owned the restaurant since 2013 with his brother Mike Pearce, assured the president: “He’s okay.”

Trump then continued, sharing with Pearce that he could “tell the people we love him.”

Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!

“So he will start game one, you think?” the president pressed. “We’re hoping, we’re hoping,” the barbecue restaurant owner returned.

“But he’s gonna be close, right?” Trump asked. “Real close, real close,” Pearce replied.

The president then asked the business owner if he knew the quarterback.

“You ever meet with these people?” Trump inquired. “They order from me quite a bit from time to time,” Pearce replied.