The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off their Super Bowl LIX triumph, visited the White House on April 28, 2025, to celebrate their 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. President Donald Trump welcomed the team, marking their first White House visit as Super Bowl champions, a stark contrast to the canceled 2018 visit during Trump’s first term. The event, steeped in tradition but tinged with political undertones, highlighted the team’s achievement while navigating a complex backdrop of public sentiment.
The Eagles’ visit, confirmed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, followed weeks of speculation and conflicting reports. A February 9 U.S. Sun article, resurfaced on social media, falsely claimed the Eagles had rejected an invitation, sparking outrage among some Trump supporters and praise from others. The White House and team sources clarified that no invitation had been declined, and the Eagles “enthusiastically accepted” the formal invite on March 10, 2025. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie emphasized the visit as an honor, aiming to avoid politicizing the occasion.
President Trump, who attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans—the first sitting president to do so—hosted the team in a ceremony described as a celebration of their “great performance.” The Eagles presented Trump with a No. 47 jersey and a team helmet, symbols of unity despite past tensions. In 2018, Trump rescinded the Eagles’ invitation after many players planned to boycott the visit, citing disagreements over his stance on national anthem protests. This time, the event proceeded smoothly, though not without absences.
Notable players, including Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, did not attend, with the White House citing “scheduling conflicts.” For example, Jalen Hurts had recently gotten married and was attending another event with his brand new wife.
Star running back Saquon Barkley, however, was a prominent presence, having golfed with Trump at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club the day prior. Barkley, who traveled to Washington on Marine One with Trump, defended his participation on X, stating, “Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand.” His engagement drew both criticism and support online, reflecting the polarized reactions to the visit.
The ceremony, attended by players like Barkley and a contingent of coaches and staff, was celebrated by some fans as a nod to tradition. The Eagles’ decision to attend, after internal discussions reported by players like Darius Slay, underscored a team vote to embrace the opportunity.
The visit, a decades-old tradition dating back to President Jimmy Carter, reaffirmed the Eagles’ place in NFL history as two-time Super Bowl champions. While the event bridged a gap from 2018, it also highlighted the ongoing intersection of sports and politics, with the Eagles’ presence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue resonating as both a celebration and a statement.
