The two-time President of the United States has arrived at the Caesars Superdome to see the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Trump’s participation marks the first time a sitting or previous US President has attended a Super Bowl in person.
While political luminaries such as former Vice President Al Gore and former President George H.W. Bush have attended the NFL’s biggest game, no sitting President has ever sat in the stadium – until today.
According to The Hill, cameras captured the 78-year-old president shaking hands with Kansas City Chiefs defensive player Chris Jones during the occasion.
Trump was also seen having a meet-and-greet with this year’s honorary coin toss participants, which included victims’ families, New Orleans Police Department officers, and other emergency responders.
Given his tumultuous relationship with the NFL, the president’s appearance at the Super Bowl is unexpected.
He has clashed with the league on numerous occasions, including player demonstrations, ownership bids, and lawsuits.
Trump attempted to purchase NFL franchises in 1981 and 2014 (the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills, respectively), but both failed.
His strained relationship with the league was exacerbated by former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who reportedly warned him, “As long as I or my heirs are involved in the NFL, you will never be a franchise owner in the league,” according to Time.
Trump did later become a football owner, owning the New Jersey Generals in the 1980s as part of the now-defunct United States Football League (USFL), but his tenure in the sport was brief.
In 1986, he led a lawsuit against the NFL, accusing it of monopolizing fall television rights. The league legally won the case, but was only awarded $1 in damages.
Trump’s participation at the highly anticipated football game would most likely add extra stress, not only for security reasons but also because one of the teams playing is the Philadelphia Eagles.
During his first term, Trump barred the Eagles from visiting the White House following their 2018 Super Bowl LII triumph. Several Eagles players publicly supported Colin Kaepernick’s protests against racial injustice, prompting the decision.
With that history in mind, it’s certainly no surprise that Trump recently congratulated the Kansas City Chiefs on their Super Bowl victory, but did not do the same for the Eagles.
The Super Bowl is already one of the world’s most tightly secured events, with thousands of law enforcement professionals, undercover agents, and high-tech surveillance to ensure safety.
