After weeks of swirling rumors, the Philadelphia Eagles will officially head to the White House to commemorate their Super Bowl LIX triumph, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
The visit, scheduled for April 28, ends speculation about whether the team had received an invitation following their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
“There’s been a lot of chatter and misinformation about this invitation,” Leavitt said during a press briefing. “Let’s set the record straight: We extended the offer, and the Eagles eagerly said yes. Mark your calendars for April 28.”
A Tradition That Sparks Debate
The White House visit has been a staple for championship teams across American sports for decades, but it’s not without its share of drama.
The tradition hit a rocky patch during President Donald Trump’s first term when several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, turned down invitations.
The Eagles themselves made headlines in 2018 after their Super Bowl LII win, skipping the visit amid a public spat with Trump.
Back then, the former president claimed he canceled the invite over national anthem protests, a narrative complicated by evidence that no Eagles players had knelt during the season.
Reports later revealed the team had planned a small delegation, with many Black players opting out.
This time around, the Eagles wasted no time signaling their interest.
Fresh off their Super Bowl win, team representatives expressed enthusiasm for a White House trip if invited. Still, the delay in confirmation fueled online speculation—until now.
Trump’s Role and a Super Bowl First
President Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February 2025, personally confirmed the Eagles’ invitation.
Despite his pre-game support for the Chiefs—driven in part by his vocal appreciation for Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, the outcome didn’t sway his decision to host the victors.
The Eagles will follow in the footsteps of the Florida Panthers, who visited earlier this year to celebrate their Stanley Cup win, marking the second championship team to be honored at the Trump White House in 2025.
