President Donald Trump will be attending Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, February 9, 2025. This marks the first time a sitting president has attended the event, prompting a range of reactions. USA Today’s Mike Freeman expressed concerns that Trump’s presence could tarnish the event’s unifying role.
Trump’s relationship with the NFL has been fraught, especially after his previous criticism of players who chose to kneel during the national anthem, which prompted some of his supporters to boycott the league. His decision to attend the Super Bowl has brought this past discord back into focus.
The NFL has opted to replace its “End Racism” message in the end zones with “Choose Love” and “It Takes All of Us” as part of its “Inspire Change” initiative. The league claims this change is a reaction to recent national crises, but some speculate it may be linked to Trump’s upcoming attendance. The decision has raised eyebrows among some high-level employees, given Trump’s contentious comments on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, has reiterated the league’s commitment to diversity, underlining its positive influence within the organization. He stressed that the diversity initiatives have brought about valuable results, reflecting the varied makeup of the league’s fan base, local communities, and team rosters.
Players from the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have shared their thoughts on Trump’s planned attendance. Eagles player Jordan Mailata remarked, “That’s cool, but Donald is not on that field,” while Chiefs player Drue Tranquill also noted that it would be “cool to have the president at the game.”
The presidential visit to the Super Bowl will necessitate unprecedented security measures for an event already classified as a National Special Security Event. Officials have confirmed there are no credible threats to the event. Trump has been increasingly involved in sports events in recent years, especially college football games.
Trump’s Super Bowl appearance will feature a pre-recorded interview with Bret Baier of Fox News Channel. This is the first pregame Super Bowl interview with a U.S. president in three years.
The Super Bowl is expected to attract other high-profile individuals, including Taylor Swift, who will be there to support Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. This could create competition for television airtime between Trump and Swift. Mike Johnson, Louisiana Representative and Speaker of the House, is also expected to attend the game with Trump at the Caesars Superdome.
Trump has recently shown admiration for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, whose wife has defended Trump on social media. The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will be Trump’s first Super Bowl attendance as president, despite his past involvement with professional football, including a failed attempt to buy the Buffalo Bills in 2014.