PHILADELPHIA -- President Donald Trump is set to host the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, April 28, but not all players are planning to attend. Notably, quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was named Super Bowl MVP following the Eagles' impressive 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, has opted out of the celebration, citing scheduling conflicts.
According to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Hurts and several other players will skip the visit. This absence echoes a similar situation from 2018 when Trump invited the Eagles to the White House after their first Super Bowl win but later canceled the event due to the anticipated low turnout of players who planned to protest during the national anthem.
When asked about his participation in the upcoming visit during the Time100 Gala, Hurts hesitated, responding with an awkward "um" followed by a long silence before walking away. This non-verbal response has sparked speculation about his feelings towards the event and the political implications surrounding it.
In contrast, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has taken a different approach. He visited Trump over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and later flew to Washington with the president on Air Force One, continuing to the White House on Marine One. Trump described Barkley as a "nice guy" during a press briefing on Sunday, April 27. In light of criticism for associating with Trump, Barkley defended himself on social media, stating, "Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand," referencing his previous golf outing with former President Barack Obama.
Barkley had a standout season, earning the Offensive Player of the Year award after rushing for 2,005 yards, which is the eighth-best total in NFL history. This marks his first season with the Eagles, and he has quickly become a prominent figure within the team.
Trump attended the Eagles' Super Bowl triumph in New Orleans, where he had predicted the Chiefs would win. Following the game, he took to his Truth Social platform to mock pop star Taylor Swift, who faced backlash from fans during the game due to her support for Trump's political opponent, Kamala Harris. Trump quipped, "The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!"
The Eagles' visit to the White House comes after much speculation regarding player attendance. In 2018, Trump had rescinded the invitation for the Eagles to visit due to the president's disappointment with players who protested during the national anthem. This time, the decision to attend or skip the event seems to be influenced by both personal and political factors.
With the changing political landscape, the Eagles players find themselves in a challenging position. If they attend, it could be viewed as an endorsement of Trump, who has faced significant unpopularity in Philadelphia, where he lost by considerable margins in all three of his presidential campaigns. On the other hand, if star players like Hurts choose to stay away, it could provoke a social media backlash from the president.
As the Eagles prepare for their White House visit, the atmosphere is charged with political tension. Hurts, who was not part of the 2018 Super Bowl-winning team, has remained relatively apolitical, with his most notable comments about politics being his compliments towards Obama during a round of golf with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.
The Eagles' visit is a tradition for Super Bowl champions, dating back to Jimmy Carter's invitation to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980. However, the current political climate complicates this tradition, as fans increasingly expect athletes to reflect their political views. This scrutiny places players in a no-win situation, where their choices could lead to backlash from either side of the political spectrum.
As the day unfolds, all eyes will be on the Eagles as they navigate this politically charged visit. The scrutiny of their decisions and the potential ramifications on their careers and public image underscore the complex relationship between sports and politics in today's society. The Eagles' visit is not just about celebrating a championship; it is also a reflection of the current state of American culture, where sports figures are often thrust into the political arena.
Ultimately, the Eagles' trip to the White House serves as a reminder of the intertwining of sports and politics and how athletes are increasingly expected to take a stand in a deeply divided nation. Whether Hurts and his teammates will choose to engage with the political implications of their visit remains to be seen, but the significance of their decisions will undoubtedly resonate beyond the football field.
