Trump Hosts Eagles After Super Bowl Win, Some Players Skip

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Trump Hosts Eagles After Super Bowl Win, Some Players Skip \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump welcomed the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to the White House, but key players, including Jalen Hurts, skipped the event. Saquon Barkley attended and defended his decision amid social media criticism. Trump praised Barkley and reignited his feud with Taylor Swift post-Super Bowl.

Quick Looks

Trump hosted 2025 Super Bowl champion Eagles at the White House Monday.
Several players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, skipped the event.
Hurts cited a “scheduling conflict” for his absence.
Trump had previously canceled an Eagles celebration in 2018 over low turnout.
Saquon Barkley attended after traveling with Trump from Bedminster.
Barkley defended his visit, citing respect for the presidency.
Trump praised Barkley but mocked Taylor Swift after her Super Bowl appearance.
Swift endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, drawing Trump’s ire.

Deep Look

The celebration of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 Super Bowl victory at the White House on Monday, hosted by President Donald Trump, was anything but a routine championship event.
While Trump rolled out the red carpet for the Eagles, including star running back Saquon Barkley, notable absences from key players like quarterback Jalen Hurts reignited political tensions that have simmered between Trump and professional athletes since his first term.

This latest sports-meets-politics episode reveals lingering divisions in American public life, where even a simple congratulatory ceremony carries deep political undertones.

Jalen Hurts and Key Players Skip the White House Visit

Jalen Hurts, arguably the face of the franchise and a fan favorite, was conspicuously absent from the White House event. A White House official — speaking anonymously — cited “scheduling conflicts” as the official reason, but the circumstances suggest a more nuanced political undertone.

Hurts had already hinted at reluctance. During an appearance at the Time 100 Gala in New York City last week, he was asked directly about attending the ceremony. His response — a hesitant “um” followed by an uncomfortable silence and a quick exit — fueled speculation that politics played a role in his decision.

Hurts wasn’t alone. Several other Eagles players also skipped the event, though none openly cited political reasons. Nonetheless, their absence mirrored the 2018 controversy when Trump canceled the Eagles’ White House visit after learning most players would not attend — an unprecedented move at the time.

The pattern is clear: while the Super Bowl win unites Eagles fans, attending a White House celebration hosted by Trump remains divisive among the team’s players.

In stark contrast, Saquon Barkley — fresh off an award-winning season — accepted Trump’s invitation and embraced the moment.

Barkley had spent the weekend golfing with Trump at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
He traveled aboard Air Force One and then Marine One to the White House ceremony alongside the president.

While Barkley’s appearance seemed celebratory, it triggered a social media storm, with critics accusing him of cozying up to a controversial figure.

Barkley responded defiantly on X (formerly Twitter):

“Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand.”

He noted that he had previously golfed with former President Barack Obama, reinforcing his stance that his presence was about respect for the presidency — not personal politics.

Barkley’s pragmatic approach underscores the pressure athletes face today, as public appearances can carry heavy political weight no matter their personal intentions.

Trump’s Super Bowl Attendance and Taylor Swift Feud

Adding another layer to the drama, Trump had personally attended the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory in New Orleans, where Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.

Before the game, Trump had predicted a Chiefs victory, publicly praising quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
After the Eagles’ win, Trump pivoted to mocking Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and who has become a high-profile Democratic supporter.

Swift, present at the Super Bowl, was shown on the Jumbotron and received a mix of cheers and boos. Trump seized on the moment, posting on Truth Social:

“The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!”

Trump’s swipe at Swift was more than a casual insult; it was a clear signal to his political base, reminding them of her endorsement of Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.

In Trump’s world, pop culture, politics, and sports are inseparably intertwined — and athletes and celebrities who oppose him often find themselves directly in his rhetorical crosshairs.

The Politicization of White House Sports Celebrations

Once upon a time, White House visits by championship sports teams were apolitical traditions — opportunities for athletes to be honored for their achievements, regardless of their personal beliefs.

But the Trump era dramatically changed that:

In 2018, Trump disinvited the Eagles.
In 2017, NBA star Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors declined to visit Trump’s White House after winning the NBA title.
In various incidents, other athletes — particularly from the NFL and NBA — publicly boycotted Trump ceremonies, citing concerns about racial justice, immigration policy, and presidential rhetoric.

These tensions have persisted into Trump’s second term, with the 2025 Eagles visit offering the latest case study.

Athletes are increasingly conscious of the political implications of their public appearances. For some, attending a White House event under Trump is seen as tacit endorsement of his policies; for others, it’s simply fulfilling a traditional honor.

Regardless of individual motivations, these decisions are now scrutinized intensely by fans, political activists, and the media alike.

Trump’s Continued Polarization of the Sports World

For Trump, maintaining visibility at major sports moments — whether attending the Super Bowl or hosting championship teams — remains a calculated strategy.

It projects an image of American strength, masculinity, and dominance.
It reinforces his brand among voters who identify strongly with football, patriotism, and traditional American culture.
It creates opportunities to rally his base by mocking high-profile critics like Taylor Swift or highlighting loyalty among athletes like Barkley.

Yet this strategy comes at a cost. Each divisive comment or perceived snub deepens the politicization of sports and risks alienating athletes and fans who once saw sports as a refuge from politics.

Conclusion: A Divided Celebration Reflecting a Divided Nation

The Eagles’ 2025 White House visit tells a much bigger story than a simple victory lap for a championship team.

It reflects the lasting political polarization in American society, where even attending — or skipping — a ceremonial event is laden with meaning.
It highlights how athletes like Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley must navigate public expectations, media scrutiny, and personal convictions in the Trump era.

And it reveals that for Trump, every public appearance remains a platform to reinforce loyalty, reward allies, punish critics, and mobilize his political movement — even in the realm of professional sports.

In short, what was once a unifying tradition now mirrors the deep divisions running through American public life in 2025 — and shows no signs of healing anytime soon.