The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their consecutive Super Bowl triumphs with a visit to the White House on Friday, an event marked by good-natured humor and a lighthearted exchange between President Joe Biden and tight end Travis Kelce.
Addressing the team’s success and the tragic events of the Super Bowl parade, which resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to 22 others, Biden delivered a speech on the White House’s South Lawn. Following his remarks, the President jokingly introduced Kelce, acknowledging the unpredictability of his potential speech.
Kelce, seizing the moment, briefly took the microphone and quipped, “My fellow Americans, it’s nice to see you all again,” harkening back to the previous year’s event where he attempted a similar stunt. He then added, “I’m not gonna lie, President Biden, they told me if I came up here I’d get tased, so I’m gonna go back to my spot,” before shaking hands with the President and returning to his place.
Travis Kelce and President Biden shared a lighthearted moment during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration at the White House.
President Biden opened the event with a speech before passing the microphone to Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.
Following Kelce’s brief appearance, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt delivered a speech. The event continued with Biden donning a signed Chiefs helmet, a customary gesture for championship teams visiting the White House.
The Chiefs have established a dynasty in recent years, winning the Super Bowl three times in the past five seasons. Their most recent victory came against the Philadelphia Eagles, the favorite team of First Lady Jill Biden, who grew up near Philadelphia and attended the game. The Chiefs also defeated the San Francisco 49ers to claim the Super Bowl title in 2020.
Earlier on Friday, the Chiefs shared their excitement on social media, announcing their visit to the White House to celebrate their back-to-back championship seasons and Super Bowl LVIII victory.
Among the attendees was kicker Harrison Butker, who made headlines with a controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College earlier in May. Butker stood by his comments, expressing his beliefs without regret. In his speech, he criticized Biden’s policies, including the President’s stance on abortion and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lombardi Trophy and a Kansas City Chiefs helmet were proudly displayed at The White House.
President Biden addresses the crowd while proudly wearing a signed Kansas City Chiefs helmet.
Also in attendance were Rashee Rice and Wanya Morris, two teammates who have faced legal troubles in recent months. Their presence added a layer of intrigue to the event.
Notably absent from the celebration was singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, much to the disappointment of many in the White House. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre fielded questions about Swift’s potential attendance earlier in the week, expressing interest in her presence but acknowledging uncertainty regarding her schedule.
Swift, currently on her Eras tour, performed in Madrid on Thursday, making her presence at the White House event unlikely.