President Donald Trump has made history at Super Bowl LIX.
The two-time President of the United States has arrived at the Caesars Superdome to witness the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
With his appearance, Trump becomes the first sitting or former U.S. President ever to attend a Super Bowl in person.
While political figures like former Vice President Al Gore and former President George H.W. Bush have made appearances at the NFL’s biggest night, no sitting President has ever taken a seat in the stadium – until now.
According to The Hill, cameras caught the 78-year-old president shaking hands with Kansas Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones during the event.
Trump was also seen taking part in a meet-and-greet with this year’s honorary coin toss participants, which included victims’ family members, members of the New Orleans Police Department, and other emergency personnel.
President Trump is in attendance for Super Bowl LIX. pic.twitter.com/rI16SVgHbx
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 9, 2025
The president’s attendance at the Super Bowl is surprising considering his rocky history with the NFL.
Over the years, he has clashed with the league on several occasions – whether it was over player protests, ownership bids, or lawsuits.
Back in 1981 and 2014, Trump tried to buy NFL franchises (the Baltimore Colts and the Buffalo Bills, respectively), but both attempts failed.
His tense relationship with the league was further fueled by former NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, who reportedly once told him: “As long as I or my heirs are involved in the NFL, you will never be a franchise owner in the league,” cited by Time.
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Trump did eventually get into football ownership by purchasing the New Jersey Generals in the 1980s as part of the now-defunct United States Football League (USFL), but his time in the sport was short-lived.
In 1986, he spearheaded a lawsuit against the NFL, accusing them of monopolizing fall TV rights. The league technically won the case, but only received $1 in damages.
Trump’s presence at the highly-anticipated football game will likely bring extra tension, not just for security reasons but also because one of the teams playing is the Philadelphia Eagles.
During his first term as President, Trump disinvited the Eagles from the White House after their Super Bowl LII victory in 2018. The decision came after several Eagles players publicly supported Colin Kaepernick and his protests against racial injustice.
Reports at the time suggested that many players had already planned to skip the White House visit before Trump announced: “They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country,” per the New York Times.
With that history in mind, it’s probably no surprise that Trump recently congratulated the Kansas City Chiefs on making it to the Super Bowl – but didn’t extend the same message to the Eagles.
The Super Bowl is already one of the most heavily secured events in the world, with thousands of law enforcement officials, undercover agents, and high-tech surveillance ensuring safety.
Beyond Donald Trump’s historic attendance, the event will also be packed with A-list stars, including Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, as well as Jay-Z, Tom Brady, Bradley Cooper, and many more.
As for the entertainment, the halftime show is expected to kick off between 8PM and 8:30PM ET, depending on the duration of the first half between the Eagles and Chiefs, per CBS News.
This year’s headliner is Kendrick Lamar, who will be joined on stage by special guest SZA. This marks the ‘Humble’ rapper’s second time performing at a Super Bowl halftime show.
