Donald Trump hosted the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, but several players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, chose not to attend the celebration. Hurts and other players cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for their absence, according to a White House official.
Despite Hurts’ absence, Trump praised him as a “terrific guy and terrific player” who delivered a series of stellar performances during the Eagles’ championship run. Trump described the Eagles as an “incredible team” and “incredible group.”
In April, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie stated that attending the White House was not obligatory for players. “Our culture is that these are optional things,” he said. “If you want to enjoy this, come along and we’ll have a great time, and if you don’t, it is totally an optional thing.”
NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that other Eagles players who did not attend Monday’s ceremony included AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Brandon Graham.
The Eagles were disinvited from visiting the White House in 2018, the last time they won the Super Bowl, after several players indicated that they would not attend amid tensions over anthem protests in the NFL. Trump had criticized players for kneeling during the national anthem to protest against racial inequality.
Hurts awkwardly responded with an “um” and silence when asked about the White House visit at a recent event. On the other hand, Saquon Barkley, the Eagles’ star running back, visited Trump over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey and traveled with the president to Washington on Air Force One. Trump praised Barkley, saying he had a “season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL.”
Barkley defended his interaction with Trump on social media, stating that he has golfed with Barack Obama as well. “Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand,” Barkley posted.
While Trump faced criticism from athletes during his first term, there has been little pushback from the sports world so far in his second term. In February, Trump attended the Super Bowl, his presence welcomed by several players, including Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Teams that win major championships are traditionally invited to the White House to celebrate their victory. However, during Trump’s first term, several teams, such as the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the United States Women’s National Team, were either not invited or indicated that they would not attend if they were.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/28/jalen-hurts-donald-trump-white-house-super-bowl
