The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to visit the White House to celebrate their recent Super Bowl LIX victory — but the visit comes with a heavy dose of historical irony.
Seven years ago, the Eagles were at the center of a political firestorm when then-President Donald Trump falsely accused them of kneeling during the national anthem, using that claim to uninvite the entire team from the traditional White House celebration. No Eagles players had actually taken a knee during the anthem that season.
Now, Trump, newly re-elected, is set to host the team on Monday after their win over the Kansas City Chiefs. On Sunday, Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was spotted spending time with Trump, joining him at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, before traveling together aboard Marine One and Air Force One. Photos circulated showing Barkley and Trump chatting at a table surrounded by “Make America Great Again” hats.
Trump greeted reporters briefly, praising Barkley as “a nice guy” and joking, “I wanted to race him, but I decided not to do it.”
A Tense History Between Trump and the Eagles
The warm scene between Barkley and Trump stood in stark contrast to the relationship between Trump and the Eagles during his first term. After the Eagles won their first Super Bowl in 2018, many players planned to skip the White House visit, citing disagreements with Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
Rather than acknowledge their right to make that choice, Trump lashed out publicly, falsely accusing the Eagles of disrespecting the anthem by kneeling — despite no members of the team having participated in protests during the anthem that season.
Trump then rescinded the Eagles’ invitation altogether, escalating the situation into a national political controversy and further fueling tensions over NFL players’ free speech rights.
A Different Atmosphere in 2025 — But Not Without Questions
This time, the Eagles have accepted the invitation, ending days of social media speculation about whether they would boycott. Still, some players, like Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, have been noncommittal. When asked on the red carpet at the 2025 TIME 100 Gala whether he would attend, Hurts avoided answering directly, simply pausing before the interview ended.
Team owner Jeffrey Lurie acknowledged the team’s complicated history with White House visits but said earlier this month that this year’s trip would honor the “time-honored tradition.”
“There were special circumstances (in 2018) that were very different,” Lurie said. “This was kind of an obvious choice… When you grow up and you hear about, ‘Oh, the championship team got to go to the White House,’ that’s what this is.”
He emphasized that participation was voluntary: “Our culture is that these are optional things. If you want to enjoy this, come along… and if you don’t, it is totally an optional thing.”
Looking Ahead
While some Eagles players are ready to embrace the tradition, the memory of being falsely accused and publicly humiliated by the sitting president still lingers for many fans and players alike. Today’s visit will be not just a celebration of a championship, but a reminder of the complicated intersection of sports, politics, and truth — and how easily moments meant for unity can be distorted for political gain.
Related: Championship Teams That Have Visited Trump In The White House
