Philadelphia’s 2025 champions have a decision in front of them, and past events will have to be taken into account if they are to make a White House visit.
The Philadelphia Eagles have once again clinched the Super Bowl title, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in New Orleans. Traditionally, such a victory would lead to a celebratory visit to the White House. However, given the team’s history with President Donald Trump, this tradition is now under scrutiny.
A brief history of the Eagles and the White House
In 2018, after their first Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots, the Eagles faced a dilemma. Several players planned to skip the customary White House visit, citing disagreements with President Trump’s criticism of NFL players protesting during the national anthem. In response, Trump rescinded the invitation, stating, “The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow.”
The statement continued…
“They disagree with their president because he insists that they proudly stand for the national anthem, hand on heart, in honour of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.
“The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.
“These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony – one that will honour our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the national anthem.”
Current Eagles sentiments
Fast forward to today, and the question arises: Will the Eagles accept a potential invitation this time? Team captain Lane Johnson commented, “I’d be honored to go, regardless of who the president is, but we’ll see. It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team.” Defensive end Josh Sweat added, “It’s a great honor, but I’m looking forward to this [championship] parade more than anything.”
Awaiting the president’s move
As of now, it’s unclear whether President Trump will extend an invitation to the Eagles. Given the past tensions, both parties might tread carefully. The ball, as they say, is in the president’s court, assuming the team’s vote is to go.
