On April 28, 2025, President Donald Trump welcomed the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House to celebrate their recent Super Bowl victory, marking a notable moment for the franchise after a tumultuous past with the president. The Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs with a decisive 40-22 win in Super Bowl LIX, held nearly three months prior. However, the celebration was not without controversy, as several key players, including Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, opted to skip the event due to scheduling conflicts.
During the ceremony, which lasted about 20 minutes on the White House South Lawn, Trump lavished praise on the Eagles, calling Hurts a "terrific guy and terrific player" despite his absence. Trump remarked on the Eagles' impressive 14-3 regular season and their dominant playoff run, stating, "The Eagles have turned out to be an incredible team, an incredible group." This celebration was particularly significant as it was the first visit to the White House for the Eagles since their first Super Bowl win in 2018, which was marred by a public spat with Trump.
In 2018, the Eagles were disinvited from the White House after many players indicated they would not attend, largely due to Trump's controversial comments regarding players protesting during the national anthem. This time around, however, the atmosphere was markedly different. Trump extended an invitation to the team in March 2025 after they publicly signaled their willingness to accept it. Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie expressed that there was no hesitation in accepting the invitation, emphasizing the honor of being celebrated at the White House.
Notably absent from the ceremony were not just Hurts, but also wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and retired defensive end Brandon Graham, among others. A White House official confirmed that Hurts would not be attending due to a scheduling conflict. When asked about the visit at the Time magazine gala just days before, Hurts responded with an awkward silence, indicating his reluctance to engage with the question.
Despite the absence of key players, the event featured a strong turnout from the Eagles organization. Around 54 members attended, including head coach Nick Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman, and several assistant coaches. Trump took the opportunity to invite Dom DiSandro, the team's senior adviser and chief security officer, to speak at the podium, calling him "sort of a legend." DiSandro's brief remarks included a simple thank you to the president and a cheer for the Eagles.
Among the players who did attend was star running back Saquon Barkley, who had spent the previous day with Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Barkley traveled to Washington with Trump aboard Air Force One and later defended his visit 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. Trump praised Barkley during the ceremony, calling him "a great young guy and an incredible football player," and jokingly noted that he wouldn't want to tackle him.
Trump also took the opportunity to comment on the Eagles' controversial "tush push" play, which some NFL owners are seeking to ban. He expressed his support for keeping the play, saying, "I hope they keep that play, coach. I like it. It's sort of exciting and different." The NFL owners are expected to vote on the future of the play in mid-May, requiring a two-thirds majority for it to pass.
During his remarks, Trump recounted his attendance at the Super Bowl, where he sat near pop star Taylor Swift, who was supporting her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Trump humorously remarked, "I watched in person. I was there along with Taylor Swift. How did that work out?" This comment elicited laughter from the audience and served as a jab at Swift, who faced backlash from some fans during the game.
As the ceremony drew to a close, Trump presented the Eagles with gifts, including a signed helmet and a number 47 midnight green jersey. The helmet bore the inscription "M.A.G.A" between the signatures of team members, a nod to Trump's campaign slogan. The president indicated that he would invite the team back to the Oval Office for further celebrations.
The Eagles' visit to the White House stands in stark contrast to their previous experience in 2018, when they faced a public fallout with Trump over the disinvitation. At that time, Trump had criticized the team for their political stance, which included protests against racial inequality and police brutality. The Eagles are now only the second NFL team to visit Trump during his presidency, following the New England Patriots in 2017.
As the event concluded with the band playing the "Rocky" theme and the Eagles' anthem "Fly, Eagles, Fly," the celebration symbolized a new chapter for the team and their relationship with the White House. The Eagles' 2025 Super Bowl victory and subsequent visit to the White House marks a significant moment in the ongoing intersection of sports and politics, reflecting the evolving dynamics in American culture.
