For the second time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Eagles have declined the traditional White House visit following their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. According to reports from The U.S. Sun, team discussions were held, and the consensus was a resounding “no” to meeting President Donald Trump.
This decision mirrors the team’s response following their first Super Bowl win in 2018, during Trump’s first term. At the time, Trump publicly rescinded the Eagles’ White House invitation, citing disagreements over players’ national anthem protests and social justice activism.
“The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,” Trump stated in 2018. “They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.” Instead of a team celebration, Trump held an alternative event featuring the United States Marine Band and the U.S. Army Chorus.
This time around, the Eagles were never interested in making the trip. According to The U.S. Sun, a team source confirmed that internal discussions about whether to accept an invitation ended in a unanimous decision to decline.
Eagles captain Lane Johnson addressed the topic, stating that while a White House visit is a significant honor, the team would ultimately vote on the decision. However, when pressed about their stance, the players reportedly responded with a “massive no.”
During Trump’s first presidency, the relationship between professional athletes and the White House became increasingly contentious, particularly around issues of racial injustice and player protests. Trump was a vocal critic of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest movement, stating that players who knelt should be fired.
The Eagles had several players decline a visit in 2018 in protest of Trump’s comments on racial injustice.
While the White House visit is traditionally celebratory for Super Bowl champions, the Eagles seem more focused on celebrating with their city and preparing for next season. After a historic win, the team has already held its victory parade in Philadelphia, where thousands of fans lined the streets to celebrate.
Photo Credit: X- Eagles
