Politics
Eagles Star Ripped For Snubbing White House Visit
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is drawing criticism after choosing not to attend the team’s White House visit Monday, where the Super Bowl champions were honored by President Donald Trump. Although the White House cited “scheduling conflicts” as the reason for his absence, the move has fueled controversy given Hurts’ awkward reaction to a similar question last week.
In February, Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles to a decisive 40–22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. The performance marked a significant turnaround from Super Bowl LVII, where the Eagles narrowly lost to the Chiefs 38–35, despite Hurts’ impressive four-touchdown effort.
Team owner Jeffrey Lurie had previously said that this trip was optional, allowing players to decide for themselves whether to attend. Nonetheless, Hurts’ decision not to participate stands out, especially given the Eagles’ complicated history with presidential visits.
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. The White House says Hurts and other players who can’t attend had “scheduling conflicts.”
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) April 28, 2025
Following the Super Bowl win, Hurts married his longtime girlfriend, Bry Burrows, and was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025. During his appearance at the TIME100 Gala last week, Hurts was asked directly whether he would join his teammates at the White House.
His brief, hesitant response — simply saying “Um,” before falling silent — left many wondering if he was trying to avoid the visit altogether. That moment, coupled with today’s confirmed absence, has led to accusations that Hurts deliberately snubbed the event rather than attending alongside his teammates.
WATCH:
Will Jalen Hurts visit the White House next week? pic.twitter.com/a82rZwnK0a
— TIME (@TIME) April 25, 2025
In 2018, under Trump’s first term, the team’s visit was canceled after several players planned to boycott over social justice issues, setting off a firestorm between the NFL and the White House. This time around, the situation is less confrontational.
Other Eagles players, such as star running back Saquon Barkley, chose to attend the event. Barkley was even seen golfing with President Trump over the weekend at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, club.
After photos from the golf outing circulated on social media, Barkley faced criticism from some quarters but defended himself, explaining that he respects the office of the presidency. He also noted that he had recently golfed with former President Obama as well, making clear that he doesn’t see his participation as an endorsement of any political figure but rather as a sign of respect for the position itself.
“Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand,” Barkley wrote on X. “And [I] look forward to finishing my round with Trump!”
Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards in his first season with the team on their way to winning Super Bowl LIX over the heavily-favored Chiefs. Their final game saw the Bronx native break the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, previously held by Broncos legend Terrell Davis.
As for Hurts, he has generally kept a low profile when it comes to political matters throughout his career. He has not made any public statements explaining his decision to skip the White House event, and it’s unclear whether he plans to address the situation in more detail going forward.
