As debate swirls around whether the Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House following their Super Bowl LIX victory, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has weighed in, making it clear where he stands. On the latest episode of The Steam Room podcast, Barkley voiced his frustration with teams declining White House invitations based on who occupies the Oval Office, calling the decision “stupid.”
“I don’t care who the president is,” Barkley told co-host Ernie Johnson. “He’s the President of the United States. It’s bothered me the last 10 years, they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going because this certain person is president.’ Dude, it’s the President of the United States.”
Barkley believes that visiting the White House is about honoring tradition and respecting the office, regardless of political disagreements.
“Even though I disagree with President Trump on some things, if I met him, I would still give him the respect and dignity he deserves,” Barkley continued. “We can disagree, but it bothers me when these teams don’t want to go to the White House. I’m just disappointed…we got so divided. Where did we get to as a country when we’re like, ‘We’re not going to the White House, we don’t like who’s in there.’ That’s just stupid.”
The Eagles’ White House visit remains uncertain, with conflicting reports on whether the team will accept an invitation from President Trump. The initial speculation was sparked by a report from The Sun, which claimed that anonymous sources within the Eagles organization had stated they would decline. However, this has not been officially confirmed.
On February 24, Politico reported that a White House official denied the claim, while ESPN and NFL Network sources indicated that the Eagles do plan to visit. In a statement to CNN’s Jake Tapper, an anonymous Eagles representative said:
“We would be honored to visit the White House. It’s one of the things we had looked forward to doing, and we look forward to receiving the invitation.”
Trump himself addressed the situation in an Oval Office press conference, stating:
“They will be [invited], we haven’t yet, but they will be. I thought it was a great performance by them, and absolutely. They’ll be extended that invitation.”
For Barkley, the bigger issue isn’t politics—it’s the increasing division in America. He believes that sports should unite people, not further the divide.
While some players and fans argue that refusing a White House visit is a statement against policies they oppose, Barkley sees it as a missed opportunity to bridge the gap and engage in meaningful conversations.
“We can disagree,” he reiterated, “but the President is the President. The tradition of teams visiting the White House should continue, no matter who’s in office.”
