When President Donald Trump met with small business owners at the White House, he had one burning question on his mind—and it wasn't about the economy. It was about Patrick Mahomes.

During a summit on Monday, May 4, the president zeroed in on Joe Pearce, co-owner of Kansas City's beloved Slap's BBQ, and immediately asked the question every Chiefs fan is dying to know: "How's Mahomes doing? Is he okay?"

Pearce, who has run the barbecue joint with his brother Mike since 2013, gave a reassuring answer: "He's okay." But Trump wasn't satisfied with just that. He leaned in further, pressing for details on whether the star quarterback would be ready for Week 1.

"So he will start game one, you think?" the president asked. Pearce responded cautiously: "We're hoping, we're hoping." Trump followed up: "But he's gonna be close, right?" To which Pearce replied, "Real close, real close."

The exchange took a lighter turn when Trump asked if Pearce knew Mahomes personally. "They order from me quite a bit from time to time," the restaurant owner shared, revealing that the Chiefs' superstar is a fan of Slap's famous barbecue.

"You let him know, I want him to get better fast, I hope he plays the whole season," Trump said before turning his attention to a display of barbecue sauces—a fitting pivot given that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is also a well-known Kansas City barbecue enthusiast.

For fans, the update is a welcome sign of hope. Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in a December game, and his return for the upcoming season remains uncertain. But with the president checking in and the local barbecue crew staying optimistic, the buzz around Mahomes' recovery is heating up—just like a rack of ribs at Slap's.