The Philadelphia Eagles soar with the Super Bowl LIX triumph, and the age-old query still comes to the forefront: will they be making the trek to the White House? Uncharacteristically enough, President Donald Trump has yet to issue an official invite to the victors. The speculation and recollections of the scandals of the past resurfacing keep the sports world and Eagles’ supporters alike hanging in anticipation of how it will unfold.
A tradition of a White House visit has been a treasured experience for title-winning sports teams. The event combines sports and politics in a sportsmanship triumph. Nevertheless, the Eagles wait with the longstanding tradition yet to be invited.
According to TMZ, the Eagles have not yet been sent any word officially from the White House. Prior speculation had been that the Eagles had declined an invite; however, the team has put that speculation to rest. They’re still willing to travel if invited and leave the issue firmly in the hands of President Trump.
This is not the Eagles’ first encounter with being at the center of a White House invite dispute. They had the invite revoked in 2018 after they won the title of the Super Bowl LII title with Donald Trump canceling it amidst disagreements with player anthem protests during the anthem. The decision had the public sharply polarized across the entire nation.
Skip ahead to 2024 and while there aren’t any such controversies this time around, the remnants of 2018 appear to be still coloring the picture. Quarterback Jalen Hurts and other players have intimated that a visit to the White House might not be a top aspiration, a move indicative of a more reserved attitude.
In the Eagles’ locker room, the sentiments toward a White House invite also appear mixed. Some of the players might be hesitant based on past experiences, but the team has been firm—no decision will be reached officially unless an invite has been extended. One of the team’s leading players, Lane Johnson, reaffirmed that such a decision will be a collaborative effort with respect for the differing views among the team members.
Not surprisingly, the public has a lot of opinions. The social media world is abuzz with them. There are those who think that the team should take the invite if it comes, seeing the visit as a great honor irrespective of political affiliations. Others argue that the Eagles need to stand firm with their values, given the 2018 fiasco.
Paraphrasing a supporter who tweeted it this manner, “Fly, Eagles, Fly—either to the White House or not!”
The remaining sports teams had not had anything at all to say about the Eagles’ situation. The Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX foes, the Kansas City Chiefs, had not had anything to say about the situation either. The Chiefs’ players had instead welcomed the president’s attendance at the Super Bowl and spoke of the differing dynamics of the two teams.
So will the Eagles be going to the White House? At this point it’s anybody’s guess. The team will welcome it—if they receive an invite. Short of a public statement from President Trump, the situation rests in limbo.
