The Philadelphia Eagles have set off a political firestorm by declining an invitation to visit the White House after their Super Bowl victory, enraging MAGA supporters and reigniting the long-running feud between the NFL and Donald Trump.
The decision, reportedly made by a team vote, has sparked furious reactions from conservatives, some of whom are now vowing to boycott the Eagles and the NFL altogether.
Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl game, adding an extra layer of significance to this year’s championship. But despite his presence at the game, the Eagles made it clear they had no interest in celebrating their victory at the White House.
According to reports, Eagles team captain Lane Johnson had initially stated that visiting the White House would be an honor. However, the final decision was left to the team, and their response was a resounding "no." When asked about the invitation, the team reportedly rejected it outright, fueling backlash from Trump’s supporters.
The rejection didn’t sit well with Trump’s base, with many prominent voices on social media expressing their outrage. Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly didn’t hold back, tweeting: “GO F YOURSELVES EAGLES. My husband is a fan so I got onboard but F this BS.”
Other Trump supporters took it a step further, calling for the NFL to lose funding and demanding a boycott. One user angrily wrote, “Eagles won’t visit The White House? Oh cool. Pull all their funding. Every dime. If the NFL hates America, then America needs to start hating the NFL.”
A Twitter user named Kentucky Girl added, “The Philadelphia Eagles have rejected Trump’s invitation to the White House. You know what, I will never support that team again. F** the Eagles.”*
The backlash isn’t surprising, considering the NFL’s history of political clashes with Trump. Since Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protests in 2016, the league has been a battleground for political debates, with Trump repeatedly accusing it of being “woke” and unpatriotic.
While MAGA supporters fumed, others celebrated the Eagles’ decision. Many took to social media to praise the team for standing its ground against Trump.
One fan, Padrat, cheered: “BRAVO to the Philadelphia Eagles for declining Trump’s invitation to the White House. The eagle is a symbol of STRENGTH, POWER, FREEDOM, & WISDOM. These team members proudly held on to their self-respect & dignity!”
Sports journalist Chris Schaller weighed in, pointing out Trump’s own behavior during the Super Bowl: “Trump openly rooted against the Eagles and didn’t congratulate them… the Eagles have every right not to do so.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who made history as the first NFL player to have an all-female management team, had already hinted at his disinterest in Trump’s presence at the game.
When asked about Trump attending the Super Bowl, Hurts simply responded: “No ma’am.” His response, though brief, spoke volumes about the team’s stance.
This isn’t the first time the Eagles have declined a White House visit under Trump. After winning the Super Bowl in 2018, the team was set to visit, but Trump abruptly rescinded the invitation, citing that some players had knelt during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice.
At the time, only two Eagles players had planned to attend, while the rest of the team had already refused.
Trump’s relationship with the NFL has been rocky for years, and this latest rejection only adds to the tension. Despite his Super Bowl appearance and continued efforts to align himself with American football culture, many players and teams remain resistant to associating with him.
With emotions running high on both sides, the Eagles' decision has deepened the political divide in professional sports. Will the backlash from MAGA supporters impact the team’s fan base?
Or will their bold stance against Trump solidify their place as a symbol of resistance?
Either way, one thing is clear—the fight between Trump and the NFL is far from over, and the Philadelphia Eagles have just added fuel to the fire.
