Following months of speculation, the Philadelphia Eagles finally visited the White House to meet with Donald Trump Monday afternoon – even without some of their biggest stars. 

But in spite of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ curious scheduling conflict, Trump took the high road with the Super Bowl MVP after gushing over Eagles running back and ‘handsome guy’ Saquon Barkley. 

‘Complementing Saquon’s historic season was an incredible year for a star quarterback Jalen Hurts,’ Trump told the crowd at the White House on Monday. ‘He really played, he had a great season and a great game. Finished with 32 [combined pᴀssing and rushing] touchdowns on the year, turning in one stellar performance after another, terrific guy.’

Most of the Eagles roster traveled 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to toast their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, despite a number of prominent players, including Hurts, side stepping the invitation. 

Wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as defensive stars like Jalen Carter, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay, Jordan Davis, Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean and CJ Gardner-Johnson were also absent, according to reports. 

Trump welcomed the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia to the White House on Monday 

 Trump and Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley shake hands at the White House

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts DID not attend the team’s trip to the White House

The missing players are said to be absent due to ‘scheduling conflicts,’ according to NBC News’s Yamiche Alcindor. 

The trip to the nation’s capital is traditional for all US sports teams who have clinched their respective championship but there had been doubt whether the NFL franchise would attend at all. 

The team did not visit Washington to celebrate victory at Super Bowl LII in 2018. Trump – then in his first term if office – canceled the event after it emerged that only a handful of players were planning to attend. It came amid his war with the NFL over protests during the national anthem.

The Eagles did ultimately accept the offer after it was extended by the White House, but owner Jeffrey Lurie had insisted every player would be given the choice of whether to attend or not: ‘Our culture is that these are optional things.’

Lurie, a well-known supporter of Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 Presidential bid, is actually Trump’s neighbor in Palm Beach.  But despite Lurie’s political leanings, Trump once again took the high road on Monday. 

‘He’s my neighbors, right?’ Trump asked. ‘And he’s a good neighbor.’

Trump outed Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro as a supporter during the ceremony 

In fact, there was really only one person who Trump insulted on Monday: Popstar, Kansas City Chiefs fan and Kamala Harris supporter, Taylor Swift. 

Discussing Super Bowl LIX with the crowd, Trump admitted the ‘incredible game’ was ‘a little surprising.’

‘I was there, I watched in person,’ Trump said. ‘I was there along with Taylor Swift. How did that work out?’

Swift was booed at the Superdome when she was shown to the crowd on the scoreboard.

Trump was quick to point out the Eagles’ head of security, Dom DiSandro, who became a legend among team fans after a sideline confrontation with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw in December of 2023. 

And after hearing that DiSandro was a supporter, Trump couldn’t help but share that information with attendees. 

‘I’ve been hearing about this guy,’ Trump said before referring to himself in the third person. ‘He likes Trump.’ 

DiSandro was even invited to address the crowd, but modestly stepped aside after a quick message: ‘We’re honored to be here. Thank you, President Trump, and that’s it. Go birds!’

Trump gets in a private word with Jeffrey Lurie, the team owner and fellow Palm Beach resident

Ivanka Trump walks with her family as the White House welcomes Philadelphia Eagles players

Trump made a big show of congratulating safety Reed Blankenship for a clutch interception 

Much of the coverage heading into Monday had centered on Hurts’ potential presence at the White House.

Just last week, the recently married signal caller hinted he could skip the visit to the nation’s capital  during an interview with Time.

‘Erm,’ Hurts said before staying silent, prompting an abrupt and awkward end to the interview.

However, there are no question marks over Hurts’ superstar teammate, Barkley. The running back is practically nailed on to be in attendance after cozying up to the President over the weekend.

Trump made his affinity for Barkley perfectly clear on Monday, describing the 2,000-yard rusher as a ‘a handsome guy’ and ‘incredible football player.’

‘I wouldn’t want to tackle him,’ Trump confessed before shaking the All-Pro’s hand. 

Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley spent time with Donald Trump over the weekend

Barkley was seen alongside Trump at his Trump National golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey at the weekend and traveled with the President on Marine One.

Inevitably, Trump’s ardent critics were quick to pile in on Barkley as he spent time with the most powerful man in the country and by Monday morning, the Eagles hero had had enough.

‘Lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,’ Barkley wrote on X.

‘Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump!

‘Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day.’

Head coach Nick Sirianni also previously insisted that he was ‘excited’ to head down to DC, describing the visit as an ‘honor.’

‘Teams that have been able to win championships have been doing that for a long time, and I’m really honored to go and really excited to go,’ he said.