In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to the Kansas City Chiefs to visit the White House-an opportunity they were previously denied due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chiefs, who secured their Super Bowl LIV victory against the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, never received their customary White House visit due to widespread lockdowns and travel restrictions implemented shortly after their historic win.
The invitation, confirmed by Trump during a conversation with OutKick founder Clay Travis aboard Air Force One, will also include the Philadelphia Eagles, who recently defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Trump was present at the game held in New Orleans and expressed his enthusiasm for hosting both teams in separate visits.
“I look forward to having the Eagles, and one other thing, we’re going to have the Kansas City Chiefs after that because they missed their turn because of COVID,” Trump stated, acknowledging the Chiefs‘ missed opportunity due to the pandemic.
A long-awaited invitation to the White House
This gesture from the White House comes as a surprise to many, particularly given the Chiefs‘ previous cancellation. While several players from that 2020 roster have since left the team, the invitation presents a long-awaited moment of recognition for their Super Bowl LIV victory.
The context of this invitation, however, is intriguing for another reason. Travis Kelce, one of the Chiefs‘ star players, is currently dating Taylor Swift, a prominent figure known for her outspoken opposition to Trump’s policies and political views.
Swift has publicly criticized Trump’s administration in the past and has been an advocate for various social and political causes, making this upcoming visit politically significant.
Additionally, the Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker recently made a solo trip to the White House, which raised eyebrows considering the team had just suffered a loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Trump‘s clarification of the situation suggests this new invitation is an effort to rectify the oversight caused by the pandemic.
Trump addresses Eagles’ 2018 visit controversy
During the conversation, Trump also addressed the controversy surrounding the Eagles‘ non-visit to the White House after their victory in Super Bowl LII back in 2018.
“Well, actually, (the Eagles) did want to come,” Trump explained. “A lot of people wanted to come, including the coach (Doug Pederson)-terrific guy, by the way-the general manager (Howie Roseman) wanted to come. The owner (Jeffrey Lurie) wanted to come. A lot of people wanted to come. Some of the players wanted to come. And I just said, ‘Just forget it,’ right?”
With Trump now making amends for the Chiefs‘ missed visit, the impending White House meeting will likely be an intriguing occasion.
Given Kelce‘s association with Swift, and her vocal opposition to Trump, the dynamics of the visit will be closely watched by both sports fans and political observers alike.
Read the full article here
