Trump Hosts Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at White House

Notably absent from the celebration was starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, who the White House said had ‘a scheduling conflict.’

President Donald Trump holds a Philadelphia Eagles helmet after his speech during an event welcoming the 2025 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on April 28, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump hosted the Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on April 28 to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl championship.

The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9, 40-22, as they won their second Super Bowl in franchise history and denied the Chiefs the chance to three-peat.

“The road to this day has been long, but the journey has been well worth it,” said Trump on the South Lawn of the White House.

“The season started off slow, but you soon caught fire with your great coach inspiring you, and you got the ball to your superstar running back,” he added, referring to Nick Sirianni and Saquon Barkley, respectively.

The Eagles started the season at 2-2 before winning all but one of their remaining games in the regular season.

Barkley noted that he came under fire for playing golf with Trump on April 27.

“Lol some people are really upset cause I played [golf] and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago ... and look forward to finishing my round with Trump! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day,” posted Barkley on X.

Last season was Barkley’s first with the Eagles after six seasons with the New York Giants. He ran for 13 touchdowns and 2,005 yards during the regular season. He did not score a touchdown during the Super Bowl as he ran for just 57 yards and had 40 receiving yards.

Notably absent from the celebration was starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, who the White House said had “a scheduling conflict.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Eagles for comment.

Hurts threw for 18 touchdowns, five interceptions, and almost 3,000 yards during the regular season, and also ran for 14 touchdowns. In the Super Bowl, he threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and was named the MVP.

To conclude his remarks, Trump said, “Fly, Eagles Fly,” one of the team’s mottos and the title of its fight song.

The president was given a ceremonial and customized Eagles jersey with his last name and the number “47” on the back, a reference to his being the 47th U.S. president.

Queen’s “We Are the Champions” played at the conclusion of the White House ceremony.

The Eagles did not visit the White House in 2018 after winning the Super Bowl that year, as President Trump revoked his invitation to the team the day before the scheduled celebration. The president had learned that most of the planned attendees would not be coming, an apparent boycott that the president linked to the disagreement between him and the players over national anthem protests.