The Philadelphia Eagles have accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to celebrate their victory in Super Bowl LIX at the White House. The news was confirmed by a team spokesperson and an administration official, who stated that both parties are coordinating the date and logistical details for the event.
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The Philadelphia team was crowned champion after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 40-22 in New Orleans last month.
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Since then, there had been speculation about whether they would accept the presidential invitation or not. Finally, the confirmation arrived this week, clearing up any doubts about their willingness to attend the traditional ceremony.
The White House will indeed receive the Philadelphia Eagles to celebrate their Super Bowl victory
The relationship between the Eagles and the White House has had conflicting precedents. In 2018, when the team won Super Bowl LII, the Trump administration abruptly withdrew the invitation because several players had decided not to attend.
At that time, the then press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, accused the Eagles of trying to pull off “a political stunt” by sending only a small contingent to the ceremony.
Instead, the White House organized a brief alternative event that was described as a “celebration of the United States.”
Trump’s relationship with the NFL and its players has been marked by controversy. During his first term, the president strongly criticized players who knelt during the national anthem in protest against racial inequality, even going as far as calling them “sons of bitches” at a rally in 2017.
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These statements by Trump in 2017 generated a strong rejection among many athletes and teams at the time, leading to several championship franchises in the NBA and women’s sports deciding not to visit the White House or simply not being invited.
In this context, the Eagles' decision to accept Trump’s invitation contrasts with the stance of other teams in the past. However, it has not been confirmed whether all players and coaches will attend or if some will choose to decline the invitation individually.