President Joe Biden is set to host the Kansas City Chiefs at the White House to commemorate the team's recent Super Bowl victory. This marks the Chiefs' third Super Bowl win in five years, with the event taking place on the South Lawn. Notably, singer Taylor Swift, the girlfriend of tight end Travis Kelce, was not expected to attend.
The Chiefs secured their victory in the Super Bowl held in Las Vegas earlier this year, defeating the San Francisco 49ers. It is a longstanding tradition for major championship sports teams, both professional and collegiate, to be invited to the White House in recognition of their achievements.
In 2023, the Chiefs emerged victorious against the Philadelphia Eagles, the favorite team of First Lady Jill Biden. Jill Biden, who hails from near Philadelphia, attended the game to support her team. The team's social media posts indicated that they were celebrating their consecutive championship seasons and Super Bowl LVIII victory at the White House.
Kicker Harrison Butker, known for his recent commencement speech at Benedictine College, was expected to join his teammates at the White House. Butker had previously expressed his views on some of President Biden's policies during the speech, including criticism of Biden's stance on the Supreme Court's abortion ruling and the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the anticipation, Taylor Swift's absence from the event due to her ongoing Eras tour disappointed many. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre fielded inquiries about Swift's potential attendance, citing the singer's busy schedule, which included a performance in Madrid on Thursday.