Whether the world champion Philadelphia Eagles will make the customary visit to the White House following their Super Bowl win in February has been a matter of much contention for the past two months.
The Eagles, whose owner, Jeffrey Lurie, is one of the only NFL owners known for giving to Democrats rather than Republicans, did not visit the White House after they won the Super Bowl in 2018, during Trump’s first term. In this year’s Super Bowl, President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend the game, and appeared in the run-up to be rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Days after the game, a report surfaced that discussions among the Eagles had resulted in a “massive no” on the question of whether to visit the White House, which Eagles tackle Lane Johnson had earlier stated would be subject to a team vote.
Eagles officially have accepted their invitation to visit the White House. Story via @Tim_McManus:https://t.co/zOpV5v0oKF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2025
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However, that report turned out to have been an aggregation of one from weeks earlier, which local reporters subsequently refuted. In March, it was officially announced that Trump had invited the Eagles to visit the White House in April and that they had accepted.
“I know there was a lot of fake news about an invitation that wasn’t sent or was sent; we want to correct the record: we sent an invitation, they enthusiastically accepted, and you will see them here on April 28,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the time.
What is unclear is which individual players will attend the event on April 28. And it led to an awkward moment this week.
Jalen Hurts, the Eagles quarterback who was named Super Bowl MVP, appeared on a red carpet Thursday at the Time 100 event after he was named on that list. When asked if he planned to visit the White House next week, Hurts responded with a single “um” and then remained silent, concluding the discussion.
Jalen Hurts was asked if he plans on visiting the White House next week. #FlyEaglesFly
📹: Time pic.twitter.com/uSA7159dbj
— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) April 25, 2025
Hurts has not been known, in his five-year NFL career, for speaking out on political matters. However, he did enjoy a round of golf with former President Barack Obama last year, along with Lurie and running back Saquon Barkley. Although because Hurts’ contract forbids him from golfing, he merely walked the course along with the rest of the foursome.
“President Obama, an all-time leader, a great presence. I guess the word is ‘down to earth.’ I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with that,” Hurts said last year of the day he spent on the golf course with Obama.
The Eagles did not win any Super Bowls during the presidency of Joe Biden, a self-described Eagles fan.
Photo courtesy of X screengrab
