The White House reception is one of the most anticipated moments for the champions of US professional sports leagues. However, the event is not without controversy, as evidenced by Super Bowl LIX champion Jalen Hurts’ response to President Donald Trump’s most recent invitation.
Trump and the Philadelphia Eagles have a checkered history. After winning Super Bowl LII in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term, fans and media eagerly awaited the traditional White House reception; however, the Oval Office canceled the visit at the last minute.
The 2018 visit was marred by a string of controversies that ended with most of the Eagles’ African-American players declining the invitation. This year, it seemed like everything would be different, but Hurts’ unexpected decision changed the landscape completely.
Why did Hurts decline Trump’s invitation?
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), NBC’s Yamiche Alcindor reported, “A White House official confirms to me that @Eagles quarterback @JalenHurts will not be visiting the White House when the Super Bowl champions come later this afternoon.”
Alcindor explains that her sources only cited “scheduling conflicts” for the star quarterback’s absence. Subsequent reports indicated that other players also decided not to attend the reception, citing prior commitments.
Hurts’ absence contrasts with Saquon Brakley’s presence. The running back was seen disembarking Marine One alongside President Trump to play a round of golf in New Jersey, and later, the two boarded Air Force One en route to Washington, DC.
The event was optional
Team owner Jeffrey Lurie and head coach Nick Sirianni will attend the ceremony. However, Lurie assured that attendance was optional. “Our culture is that these are optional things. If you want to enjoy this, come along and we’ll have a great time, and if you don’t, it’s a totally optional thing.”
Amid the controversy, Lurie asserted that the visit to the White House is a “time-honored tradition” and explained that the 2018 invitation came under exceptional circumstances. Hurts’ absence seems to contradict this.
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