Although there is no requirement to attend, historically the players have always attended. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts skips the White House celebration with President Trump. President Trump praised Hurts as a “terrific guy and terrific player” despite his absence. In 2018, Trump had canceled a similar celebration after most Eagles players declined to attend following their first Super Bowl win
Presidential Recognition Without the Star Quarterback
President Donald Trump welcomed the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House to celebrate their 2025 Super Bowl championship, but the team’s star quarterback, Jalen Hurts, was not in attendance. The celebration went forward with many team members present, though reports indicate several players besides Hurts opted not to attend. During the ceremony, Trump acknowledged Hurts’ absence but still praised him, calling him a “terrific guy and terrific player” for his outstanding performance that led the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl LIX.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made it clear that attending the White House celebration was “totally optional” for players, with nothing in the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement requiring attendance. This flexibility has become increasingly common in professional sports, where championship team visits to the White House have sometimes become politicized. The specific reasons for Hurts’ absence were officially attributed to scheduling conflicts, though this explanation has led to speculation about whether other factors influenced his decision.
Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts will not be attending the White House to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles’ championship…
Asinine decision that’ll lose him fans. Can’t believe athletes are still doing this 🤦🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/ULJ0OWSIrG
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) April 28, 2025
A History of Tension Between Trump and the Eagles
This isn’t the first time there’s been friction between the Eagles organization and President Trump. In 2018, following the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory, Trump canceled a similar White House celebration after learning that most players planned to skip the event. That cancellation created a rift that appears to have at least partially healed with this latest championship visit. The relationship between professional athletes and White House traditions has evolved significantly in recent years, with players increasingly making individual choices about participation.
While Hurts was absent, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley not only attended but also took an unorthodox route to the ceremony. Barkley reportedly visited Trump at his golf club and traveled with him to the White House. When facing criticism on social media for his close association with the president, Barkley defended his actions by expressing respect for the office of the presidency and noting that he had previously golfed with former President Obama as well. Barkley, who won Offensive Player of the Year, represented one of the team’s star players at the event.
President @realDonaldTrump calls @JalenHurts a terrific guy and a terrific player… Hurts skipped the @Eagles ceremony at the @WhiteHouse honoring the team for their Super Bowl victory pic.twitter.com/7HzlS9uE0c
— Nicholas A Ballasy (@NicholasBallasy) April 28, 2025
Professional Considerations Behind Hurts’ Decision
While no official statement beyond “scheduling conflicts” has been offered for Hurts’ absence, sports analysts have suggested that the quarterback may wish to keep his personal brand apolitical. Professional athletes often carefully manage their public personas, and some choose to avoid potentially divisive political appearances regardless of their personal views. For a franchise quarterback like Hurts, who serves as the face of the organization, maintaining a neutral public image has potential business and career advantages.
“The visit is “totally optional,” which most of us already knew for the simple fact that there’s nothing mentioned in the Collective Bargaining Agreement about having to attend the White House.” – Jeffrey Lurie
The exact number of Eagles players who opted not to attend remains unclear, with conflicting reports about attendance figures. What is clear is that the team was well-represented despite some notable absences. During the ceremony, Trump made several references to the Super Bowl victory, including mentioning that he had initially predicted a win for the Kansas City Chiefs. He also referenced an incident where pop star Taylor Swift, who was dating Chiefs player Travis Kelce and had endorsed Trump’s opponent Kamala Harris, was booed during the game.