Donald Trump will attend Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 11, 2025, becoming the first sitting US President to do so. The game will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Trump's attendance comes after a tumultuous relationship with the NFL, marked by public disagreements over player protests during the national anthem. In 2017, Trump criticized players who knelt during the anthem, calling for them to be fired. This led to a wave of player protests across the league.
Several teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl winners in 2018, skipped the traditional White House reception for championship-winning teams in protest against Trump's policies. The Eagles were disinvited by the White House after several players said they would not attend.
However, Trump's relationship with the NFL has improved in recent years. He welcomed the Florida Panthers ice hockey team to the White House in 2024, recognizing their National Hockey League championship victory.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whose girlfriend is pop icon Taylor Swift, said he considered Trump's appearance to be "a great honor." Swift endorsed Trump's election rival Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election. Trump has previously stated that he is "not a fan of Taylor Swift."
The Super Bowl's halftime concert will feature rapper Kendrick Lamar, who has been critical of Trump in the past.
The game will be played between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.