Well, that escalated quickly. Reports swirled over the weekend that the Philadelphia Eagles were set to snub President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House following their Super Bowl LIX victory—sending MAGA supporters into a frenzy. But in a dramatic turn, it turns out those reports were completely false. The Eagles are going to the White House, and both the team and the Trump administration have confirmed it.
At first, the U.S. Sun claimed that the Eagles had overwhelmingly rejected the invitation, with an anonymous source describing the team’s response as a “massive no.” Predictably, social media exploded, with some fans declaring they’d never support the Eagles again, while others cheered the team’s supposed refusal to visit Trump.
MAGA loyalists like Megyn Kelly lashed out (“GO F YOURSELVES EAGLES”), while others demanded the NFL be defunded (“If the NFL hates America, then America needs to start hating the NFL”). At the same time, Trump critics hailed the Eagles for holding on to their “self-respect & dignity.”
There was just one problem: none of it was true.
Hours after the online firestorm, Fox News Digital confirmed that the Eagles had not only been invited but had accepted the invitation and were currently working with the White House on scheduling the visit.
“We sent the invite and they enthusiastically accepted,” a White House official told Fox News. “We are working with them to determine a date and logistics.”
The Eagles also confirmed the news through a team spokesperson, directly contradicting the initial claims that the team had refused the invitation.
The confusion surrounding this year’s White House visit stems from what happened in 2018 when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. Back then, Trump rescinded his invitation after it became clear that many players—outraged over his criticism of kneeling during the national anthem—had no intention of attending.
Trump framed the rejection as a lack of patriotism, stating:
“They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.”
At the time, the backlash was intense, with Trump’s critics accusing him of manufacturing outrage and his supporters arguing that athletes should respect the flag. The issue fueled years of tension between the NFL and the Trump administration, with Commissioner Roger Goodell embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies—something Trump has actively opposed.
This year, however, things have changed. Not only did Trump become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, but he also made it clear from the start that the Eagles would be invited.
“They’re coming here. Philadelphia is coming here,” Trump told The Spectator last month. “They deserve to be down here, and we hope to see them.”
Before the invite was officially confirmed, Eagles captain Lane Johnson had already made it clear that he was open to visiting, but that the decision would ultimately be made by the entire team.
“I’d be honored to go, regardless of who the president is, but we’ll see,” Johnson told reporters. “It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team.”
Johnson, who was part of the 2018 Super Bowl-winning team, understands firsthand the controversy surrounding White House visits—but this time, it appears the Eagles are united in their decision to attend.
