President Donald Trump hosted Tremendous Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles on the White Home on Monday, however a number of gamers – together with quarterback Jalen Hurts – skipped the celebration.
The Eagles declined a go to to the White Home once they gained in 2018 however attended the occasion this 12 months, following their 40-22 victory over Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Hurts and different gamers cited scheduling conflicts as the explanations for his or her absences, in response to a White Home official who was not licensed to remark publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity.
Trump referred to as Hurts a “terrific man and terrific participant” who turned in “one stellar efficiency after one other” in serving to the Eagles to a 14-3 common season and their Tremendous Bowl run.
“The Eagles have turned out to be an unbelievable crew, an unbelievable group,” Trump mentioned.
In his first time period, Trump invited after which cancelled a celebration for the Eagles, as a substitute throwing his personal temporary “Celebration of America” after it grew to become clear most gamers weren’t going to point out up.
Requested by a reporter on the pink carpet of the Time journal gala final week whether or not he would participate within the White Home go to, Hurts responded with a clumsy “um” and lengthy silence earlier than strolling away.
Eagles star operating again Saquon Barkley visited Trump over the weekend at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a experience with the president to Washington on Air Drive One after which to the White Home on Marine One.
“He beloved it,” Trump mentioned of Barkley’s brief flight on the presidential airplane. “He is an amazing younger man and an unbelievable soccer participant. Saquon had a season for the ages, operating behind essentially the most highly effective offensive line within the NFL.
Barkley, in the meantime, pushed again on social media criticism earlier Monday for spending time with Trump. He famous that he has golfed with former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
“Perhaps I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to grasp,” Barkley posted on X.
Barkley ran away with the Offensive Participant of the 12 months award this previous season after speeding for two,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL historical past. It was his first season with the Eagles.
Trump attended the Eagles’ decisive Tremendous Bowl victory in New Orleans over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. He predicted forward of the sport the Chiefs would win and supplied lavish reward for his or her quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Eagles proprietor Jeffrey Lurie mentioned concerning the go to: “At this time, the Eagles had been honoured to take part within the long-standing custom of visiting the White Home to have fun our victory in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
“We’re grateful for the hospitality we had been prolonged and recognize the chance to have fun this particular crew alongside a whole lot of followers that joined us on the South Garden.”
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