Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told a reporter Wednesday night that he was excited to be headed to the White House following the team’s Super Bowl win, calling the upcoming meeting a “crazy opportunity.”
Since President Donald Trump has been in office, numerous professional athletes have made it a point to reject the president’s invitation to the White House post-championship win, claiming Trump is “problematic” for various reasons.
“You looking forward to going to the White House?” a TMZ reporter asked the NFL star.
“Oh, yeah! Always, man!” Kelce responded, while heading into the backseat of a vehicle. “Crazy opportunity!”
After the report was made, Kelce doubled down on his enthusiasm, emphasizing that an invite to the White House is a “unique opportunity to experience” no matter who’s in office.
“Grew up my whole life watching teams win championships and then go to the White House and get recognized for their greatness,” he wrote via Twitter, captioning the TMZ report, “regardless of who is in office I think it’s a unique opportunity to experience our nations Capital.”
Grew up my whole life watching teams win championships and then go to the White House and get recognized for their greatness… regardless of who is in office I think it’s a unique opportunity to experience our nations Capital. https://t.co/1Oy1q1ORJu
— Travis Kelce (@tkelce) February 27, 2020
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is in alignment with Kelce. As noted by The Daily Wire, the NFL coach said the prospect of a White House invitation would be “quite an honor.”
“I mean, I’ll be there,” said Reid. “If they’re inviting us, I’ll be there,” he added. “It’s quite an honor.”
However, as noted by TMZ, at least one player is not as excited as Kelce. Chief defensive end Frank Clark, who famously rocked a Kanye West/Trump meeting t-shirt, said he has “mixed emotions” about the White House visit.
“I know historically … that’s something you do as a Super Bowl champion. But we’ll see, man,” the athlete said. “It’s a lot of mixed emotions about stuff going on there. We’ll see.”
“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a fantastic comeback under immense pressure,” President Trump following the Chiefs’ win. “We are proud of you and the Great State of Missouri. You are true Champions!”
Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a fantastic comeback under immense pressure. We are proud of you and the Great State of Missouri. You are true Champions!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2020
In the past, athletes who’ve dissed the president and rejected a potential White House invitation have been boosted by the Left. For example, national anthem-protesting women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe, who repeatedly hit Trump, was named Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson Of The Year” in 2019.
Before the U.S. team won the World Cup, Rapinoe told Eight by Eight that she would not be accepting an invitation from the president to visit the White House if the national team were to win, The Daily Wire reported at the time.
“I’m not going to the f***ing White House. No. I’m not going to the White House,” the soccer star said. “We’re not gonna be invited. I doubt it.”
NBA stars Stephen Curry and LeBron James have come out to rip President Trump, too, both preemptively announcing that they will not be visiting Trump’s White House if either of them win NBA championships.
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