Donald Trump has confirmed that the Philadelphia Eagles will be invited to the White House to celebrate their recent Super Bowl win.
There had been speculation that the Eagles would turn down the traditional audience with the President following victory over the Chiefs.
But after it emerged that the team would be ‘honored’ to visit the White House, Trump instructed his aides to send out the invite on Tuesday.
‘They will be (invited). We haven’t yet but we will be. I thought it was a great performance by then and absolutely they’ll be extended that invitation,’ he said, before asking someone ‘do that right away’.
‘We’re going to do it sometime today. They deserve to be down here and we hope to see them.’
It would represent the first time that the Eagles have visited the White House with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Donald Trump has confirmed that the Philadelphia Eagles will be invited to the White House
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after they won the NFL Super Bowl LIX
They won the Super Bowl in February 2018, during Trump’s first term in office, but the team did not end up heading to the nation’s capital.
Following rumors of a potential player boycott, Trump disinvited the team from the customary visit. It came amid his war with the NFL over protests during national anthem.
Earlier this month, however, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl when he jetted into New Orleans to see the Eagles humiliate the Chiefs at the Superdome.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Co were eyeing a historic three-peat but Kansas City was beaten 40-22 by the Eagles.
‘I’d be honored to go, regardless of who the president is, but we’ll see,’ Eagles captain Lane Johnson previously said, as quoted by Sportico. ‘It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team.’
Trump lauded Mahomes ahead of the game and his praise for the Eagles on Tuesday was in start contrast to his comments after their last Super Bowl win.
‘The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow,’ read a 2018 Trump statement.
‘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.
President Donald Trump, center, New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, left, and Ivanka Trump, right, watch the opening ceremonies during Super Bowl LIX
‘The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.
These fans are still invited to the White House to be part of a different type of ceremony – one that will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.’
The President attended the Eagles’ victory over the Chiefs in New Orleans and was given a rousing reception by many fans inside the Superdome.
But he left the game early to fly back to his home in Palm Beach, Florida at an estimated cost of somewhere between $8million and $20 million taxpayer dollars.
