WASHINGTON − It was clear from the start the Eagles players President Donald Trump admired: Saquon Barkley, the offensive line, head of security Dom DiSandro, and defensive backs Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean.
Trump only mentioned one player who did not show up: quarterback Jalen Hurts, and that was seemingly only in passing.
That’s fine. This was the Eagles’ day for their visit to the White House on April 28, to celebrate their Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9.
About two dozen players attended, or less than half of the 53-man roster, as did several coaches, head coach Nick Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman and Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie.
Hurts didn’t show up, as he hinted last week at a Time gala when he walked away from a question about whether he’d attend.
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Neither did wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the defensive line, linebackers, and defensive backs other than Blankenship, DeJean and former Eagle James Bradberry.
Was it a political or protest statement for those who stayed away, especially for the Black players? Maybe.
Was it a political statement for those who showed up? Again, maybe.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and right tackle Lane Johnson presented Trump with a number 47 midnight green jersey and a helmet signed by members of the team. At the center of the helmet between signatures by Johnson and Landon Dickerson the word “M.A.G.A” was written in silver marker.
It’s almost as if the Eagles couldn’t win whether they chose to attend or not.
Barkley, for one, felt compelled enough to post on X a response to those criticizing him for golfing with Trump on April 27, then sitting at his table after the round, and flying with him on Air Force One to Washington.
Barkley wrote: “lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.”
No doubt, those who stayed away heard negative comments, too.
Clearly, Trump focused on those who did attend.
Trump also noted his presence at the Super Bowl, which was rare for a sitting president. And he appeared to take a jab at pop star Taylor Swift, who was also in attendance to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
“I was there along with Taylor Swift,” Trump said. “How did that work out? How did that one work out?”
Mostly, Trump was effusive about Barkley, ranging from their round of golf Sunday and how Trump offered Barkley a ride on Air Force One.
“Usually, they say, ‘No, no, I don’t think so,’” Trump said. “(Barkley) said, ‘I’ll take it, sir.’ And he loved it. We loved being together. He’s a great young guy, and an incredible football player.”
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Then came the lengthy description on Barkley’s famous backwards hurdle, calling it, “football magic.”
“I remembered that one,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Oh, that’s a dangerous play.’ He doesn’t care about danger on the football field.”
And Trump couldn’t help dissing the Giants, who let Barkley leave in free agency in March 2024.
“I was with the Giants, and the head coach and some people, and I said, ‘Do anything you have to do, but don’t lose Saquon,’” Trump said. “They lost Saquon. I called that one. That was an easy one to call because he played damn well for the Giants, I can tell you that.
“But he made the right decision because it is a team sport, and there are great people on this team.”
This is when Trump got around to Hurts, who was named the MVP of the Super Bowl.
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“Complementing Saquon’s historic season was an incredible year from star quarterback Jalen Hurts, a terrific guy and a terrific player,” Trump said.
That was it.
Then it was on to marveling at the size of the offensive line, and then DiSandro, whom he referred to as “Big Dom,” and invited him to the podium to say a few words. “Thank you, President Trump, go Birds,” DiSandro said.
Then he raved about Blankenship, a safety, mentioning the 10 tackles and interception he had in the Eagles’ 26-18 win over the Washington Commanders on Nov. 14. Blankenship also said a few words, mirroring DiSandro’s sentence.
Then DeJean got praise for his Pick-6 in the Super Bowl. Heck, Trump even got around to lobbying for the Eagles’ Tush Push, which might be outlawed soon when the NFL owners next meet to vote on banning it in mid-May.
“I hope they keep that play, Coach,” Trump said to Sirianni. “I like it, it’s sort of exciting.”
To which Sirianni replied: “We also appreciate the endorsement for the Tush Push.”
After about 15 minutes, the speech was finished. The Eagles players and coaches then got a tour of the Oval Office “to see some incredible real estate,” Trump said, adding that everyone is getting “a terrific present.”
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Whether you think these visits are pointless or too politicized, for the Eagles, it was nice to be recognized, especially after the White House abruptly canceled the first visit in June 2018.
That, of course, was mainly because only a handful of players were planning to come after Trump had railed against those kneeling during the national anthem.
And Trump was openly rooting for the Chiefs leading up to the Super Bowl before congratulating the Eagles after their victory. Then he gave the Eagles their day at the White House, and their moment of glory.
“I think maybe the Eagles themselves were surprised, but boy, they played great, they looked unbeatable,” Trump said. “It was a great moment for an incredible group of people. Throughout their extraordinary season, an amazing group of warriors. And that’s what they are, they’re really modern-day warriors, who inspired the world with their incredible spirit and athletic dominance and exceptional teamwork.
“You made the Eagles fans everywhere very proud.”
And that was the point. As Lane Johnson put it during his brief comment: “What a wonderful season it was, and we’re not done. We’re ready for another.”
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
