NFL star Jalen Hurts pays a visit to the White House.
Football Stars and Politics: Hurts Skips Trump's 2025 White House Visit
In an unorthodox mix of sports and politics, U.S. President Donald Trump played host to the victorious Philadelphia Eagles football team at the White House. The team had clinched their Super Bowl victory early in February, and Trump took the opportunity to congratulate them. However, star player Quarterback Jalen Hurts was noticeably absent. Previously, Hurts had remained tight-lipped about attending the event during a gala, only to abruptly leave when questioned.
A Blessing from the President
Despite Hurts' absence, Trump expressed his admiration for the quarterback, referring to him as "a fantastic chap and a phenomenal player." Allegedly, reports from the White House suggested scheduling conflicts as the reason for Hurts' absence, much like other players. The highlight of the ceremony was a signed football helmet that was presented to the President.
A Predictable Affair, Or So It Seemed
The Eagles' Super Bowl triumph was a 40:22 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. During his initial term, Trump, remarkably, was the first U.S. President to attend the game, held in New Orleans, where he supported the Chiefs. Interestingly, following their Super Bowl win in 2018, the Eagles opted out of a White House visit.
A Tense Return
In a twist of events, the Eagles revisited the White House tradition under Trump during the 2025 season, but with Hurts taking a pass. The White House and the team both attributed Hurts' absence, along with 11 other players, to scheduling conflicts. The 2025 visit represented a resumption of the Eagles' visit tradition under Trump, after boycotting it in 2018.
Hurts' reluctance to attend the event was evident, as he remained silent when asked during a red carpet event. Strangely enough, reports suggest a coolness in Hurts' relationship with Trump, especially following Trump's attendance at Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles' owner, Jeffrey Lurie, had made it clear that the White House visit was purely optional, stating, "If you choose not to go, it's entirely an optional matter".
[1] Team's Official Statement
[2] NFL's Account of the Event
[3] BBC News: Boycott Precedent
[4] Controversial Magazine Interview with Hurts
- Despite Jalen Hurts' absence at the ceremony, President Trump expressed his admiration for the quarterback, calling him a "fantastic chap and a phenomenal player."
- Reports from the White House suggested scheduling conflicts as the reason for Hurts' absence, much like other players, during the 2025 NFL championship team's visit to the White House.
- Hurts' reluctance to attend the event was evident, as he remained silent when asked during a red carpet event, and reports suggest a coolness in Hurts' relationship with Trump, especially following Trump's attendance at Super Bowl LIX.
- The Eagles' owner, Jeffrey Lurie, had made it clear that the White House visit was purely optional, stating, "If you choose not to go, it's entirely an optional matter."
- In a twist of events, the Eagles revisited the White House tradition under Trump during the 2025 season, but with Hurts taking a pass, alongside 11 other players.
- President Trump, while hosting the Eagles at the White House, presented a signed football helmet as the highlight of the ceremony, demonstrating the continuous relationship between the NFL, American football, and politics.
