President Donald Trump is facing criticism for inviting the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House after their Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The move has sparked backlash, particularly from Pennsylvania Congressman and Philadelphia native Brendan Boyle, who slammed the invitation as a “participation trophy” for the defeated team.
Boyle rejected Trump’s rationale for the invitation, arguing that the event is little more than a consolation prize after the Chiefs fell to the Eagles in February’s championship game.
“Donald Trump is inviting the Super Bowl losing team, Kansas City Chiefs, to the White House. It’s pathetic—a full-blown White House participation trophy,” Boyle said in a statement. “I thought Republicans didn’t believe in participation trophies.”
Controversy Over White House Invitation
Trump, an open admirer of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defended the decision by citing the team’s Super Bowl LIV victory in 2020.
The Chiefs missed their traditional White House visit that year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Trump said to Outkick’s Clay Travis aboard Air Force One, “I look forward to having the Eagles. And one other thing, we’re going to have the Kansas City Chiefs after that because they missed their turn because of COVID.”
Despite Trump’s explanation, Boyle and other critics see the invitation as an attempt to downplay the Eagles’ dominant performance in their Super Bowl victory. “Let’s be real: Trump backed the Chiefs this year. They lost badly to the Eagles, and now he’s throwing a fake celebration to cope. The Eagles crushed the Chiefs. No stunt or staged photo op will change that. Fly Eagles Fly,” Boyle added.
The Chiefs, who visited the White House in 2023 and 2024 under President Biden, have yet to comment on Trump’s invitation. Meanwhile, attention remains on tight end Travis Kelce, whose high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift, a vocal Trump critic, has fueled further speculation on how the Chiefs’ visit might unfold.
While the Eagles’ official White House visit is scheduled for April 28, no date has been set for the Chiefs. The situation remains a talking point in both sports and political circles, further amplifying the ongoing cultural divide over Trump’s role in American athletics.
