The Philadelphia Eagles have won Super Bowl LIX over the Kansas City Chiefs, against the wishes of U.S. president Donald Trump, who dropped subtle hints about the team he was rooting for before outright saying it. The Eagles and Trump have a history - it wasn’t long ago they bruised his ego, so it may not yet be fully healed.

What happened between the Eagles and Trump?

Trump doesn’t tend to look positively on anyone who dares criticize him, or even those whose opinions differ from his. Traditionally, the sitting president will extend an invitation to the Super Bowl-winning team to visit the White House and shake hands with him.

But back in 2018, when the Eagles won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots, several of the players refused to attend. At the time, several players in the NFL were standing up for the rights of Black people and against police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. Trump, at the time, publicly criticized the players who did so.

Many of the players who refused to meet Trump were Black, and cited his stance on the matter as their reason for their decision. Trump, in retaliation, decided to just un-invite the team completely.

Seven years later, Trump is in the White House again and the Eagles have won the Super Bowl again. And four of the players from the 2018 team are still on the team today, including team captain

Will the Eagles make a White House visit in 2025?

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie was asked this question before the game, so of course it was an easy answer. At that time, they didn’t even know if they’d win so, his response was just that: “I just want to win on Sunday”.

Now that his team has, the question remains. Of course, it’s not certain that Trump will extend an invite at all, but assuming he does, they’ll have to decide where they stand, as the topic of race and diversity remains a point of contention under Trump’s current administration.

Eagles team captain and offensive lineman Lane Johnson said that the team will take a vote on whether or not to visit the White House for their Super Bowl celebration.

“I’d be honored to go, regardless of who the president is, but we’ll see,” Johnson said. “It’s ultimately a team decision. I’ll do what’s best for the team.”

Another player, defensive end Josh Sweat, was diplomatic about it but chose to not make it the focus.

“It’s a great honor, but I’m looking forward to this [championship] parade more than anything,” Sweat said.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.