Eagles Celebrate Super Bowl Victory at White House, Key Players Absent

President Donald Trump hosted the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House to celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, marking the team's first visit since a previously canceled event in 2018. Notably, several key players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith, did not attend, citing scheduling conflicts, which reignited debate about the intersection of sports and politics. Trump praised the team for defying expectations and highlighted star running back Saquon Barkley, who defended his attendance on social media by urging critics to separate politics from sports. Barkley traveled with Trump to the event and gifted a hat to Eagles head of security Dominic DeSandro. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie emphasized that attending the White House was optional for players, reflecting the team's culture. The event included a tour of the Oval Office and was seen as a memorable occasion for those who participated.