The reigning NBA champion OKC Thunder will not participate in the traditional White House visit due to scheduling conflicts. Although discussions with the White House occurred, the timing of the Thunder’s extensive road trip prevented the visit. This marks a departure from a long-standing tradition, with several recent champions also citing various reasons for not making the visit.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts declined the White House’s invitation to celebrate their Super Bowl victory, citing scheduling conflicts. The White House confirmed the majority of the team attended the event. Hurts’ decision follows a previous instance in 2018 where a significant portion of the Super Bowl-winning Eagles team declined a White House visit under President Trump. While Hurts has generally avoided overt political statements, his absence is likely to be interpreted by some as a political act.
Following their Super Bowl LVII victory, the Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly foregoing a traditional White House visit. This decision echoes the team’s actions in 2017, when disagreements over President Trump’s stance on national anthem protests led to a scaled-back visit. The Eagles’ current refusal is attributed to similar political differences with the President. President Trump, who had previously predicted a Chiefs victory, publicly congratulated the Chiefs but notably omitted any mention of the Eagles’ NFC Championship win.
John Q. Hosedrinker