This weekend, Donald Trump will create history by being the first active president of the United States to be present at the Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome located in New Orleans.
On New Year’s Day, 14 individuals lost their lives on Bourbon Street due to a terror attack that ravaged the city.
In January, Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, marking his second term in office.
While earlier presidents like Ronald Reagan have conducted the pre-game coin toss from the White House, no current president has ever been present at the event.
“Security protocols have been improved this year, as this marks the first occasion a current president of the United States will be present at the event,” stated Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi.
Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Super Bowl is “the largest homeland security event we conduct annually.”
Trump’s presence is expected to spark controversy due to his remarks regarding the NFL during his political career.
Trump, a vocal opponent of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, has challenged the patriotism of NFL athletes who take a knee during the US national anthem.
The act of kneeling was an initiative aimed at highlighting the problems of racial inequality in the United States.
This Sunday’s Super Bowl will be the first in four years that won’t feature an “End Racism” message in the end zone; instead, a “Choose Love” message will be shown.
Since assuming office, Trump has condemned inclusive hiring practices designed to enhance workplace diversity.
The NFL rejects the claim that the choice to take down the banners urging an end to racism is linked to the present political atmosphere.
“The Super Bowl frequently serves as a moment frozen in time, and the NFL holds a distinct opportunity to seize and elevate the nation’s imagination,” NFL representative Brian McCarthy informed AFP.
“Selecting love is fitting to utter as our nation has recently suffered from wildfires in southern California, a terrorist attack in New Orleans, a plane and helicopter crash near the capital, and a plane crash in Philadelphia.”
Goodell, on the other hand, claims that the NFL is entirely devoted to fostering diversity via its inclusive recruitment methods.
“I believe we have shown ourselves that it enhances the NFL,” Goodell stated.
“We’re not participating in this due to it being a trend to enter or exit.” Our initiatives are crucial in seeking to draw the most exceptional talent to the NFL, both on the field and behind the scenes.
U.S. presidents and the Super Bowl
Beginning in 1967, the Super Bowl has grown into the largest event in the American sports calendar.
The Super Bowl from last year, where the Kansas City Chiefs defended their title, was the largest television event in the US since the 1969 moon landing, attracting 123.4 million viewers.
Considering the event’s impact on American culture, it is unsurprising that politicians have become more prominent in its organization.
George Bush was the first ex-president to attend the pre-game coin toss personally for Super Bowl 51 in Houston in 2017.
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan conducted the coin toss through satellite transmission from the White House.
In 2004, former President George W. Bush initiated a Super Bowl custom by providing a pre-game interview to the official network.
Barack Obama maintained the practice, while Joe Biden chose not to participate in an interview for two consecutive years prior to exiting his position in 2025.