The Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, have officially accepted an invitation to celebrate their White House victory, spokesman Caroline Leavitt announced Tuesday.
The revelation comes after weeks of debate over whether the Eagles wanted to come to the White House after President Donald Trump beat Kansas City's chief at Super Bowl LIX, or a debate over whether the Eagles actually refused the invitation.
“I know there was a lot of fake news about invitations that have not been sent or sent. I want to correct the record. I sent the invitations. They were enthusiastically accepted and will be displayed here on April 28th,” Leavitt said on ESPN by ESPN. The outlet also contacted an Eagles team spokesman. Confirmed The invitation was accepted.
“I thought it was a great performance from them.”
As Blaze News previously reported, Inside Inside Source told the outlet in February that the NFL champions had refused an invitation to the White House and did so on “a massive no.”
NBC's Pro Football Talk claimed a source that was allegedly had direct knowledge of the Eagles' decision, the team said. I'll do it Visit the White House if you are invited. Sources also said the team did not reject the invitation, and would be honored to accept it if the opportunity was given.
Trump eventually cleared his side of the matter when asked about sending an invitation.
“We haven't yet, but it will. I thought it was a great performance by them,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Absolutely they will extend that invitation.”
The Eagles vs. Trump's ordeal dates back to 2018, with the team refusing to visit the president following the Super Bowl LII victory over New England's Patriots.
The event was reportedly cancelled because they wanted to attend. Feelings about the administration were particularly strong with two Eagles players at the time, safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive Chris Long. The players reportedly focused on vague stances of social injustice, including the national anthem protest before the NFL game.
“I don't want to take away from anyone's experience, or make it a big distraction. It's a celebration event, and I want people who chose to enjoy it,” Jenkins said in 2018.
Trump expressed his opinion at the time, saying the Eagles “is because the president is advocating that he proudly holds his national anthem, his hands in his heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our nation.”
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