In what appeared to be an uncomfortable moment at the TIME100 Gala, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts avoided directly answering a question about whether he would attend the team’s upcoming White House visit.
Hurts, who led the Eagles to their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and earned MVP honors, was walking the red carpet at the prestigious TIME100 Gala on Thursday when a reporter asked if he would be joining his teammates for the scheduled April 28 ceremony with President Donald Trump.
Hurts responded with a hesitant "Umm" while looking away from the camera, wearing what observers described as an uneasy expression mixed with a hesitant smile. The interview reportedly ended after the question, with the reporter thanking him as Hurts appeared to walk away.
The Eagles formally accepted the White House invitation back in March, but uncertainty has lingered over whether all players would attend. The situation carries added weight considering the team famously declined a White House visit after their Super Bowl LII win in 2018 during Trump’s first term.
The tradition of Super Bowl champions visiting the White House dates back to 1980. This year’s trip adds another historical layer, as President Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, watching from the stands during Philadelphia’s 40-22 win over Kansas City in New Orleans on February 9.
Hurts, who recently married longtime fiancée Bryonna "Bry" Burrows, reflected earlier this year on the magnitude of winning a championship. During a February appearance on "Good Morning America," he said, "For 364 days of the year, you work day-in and day-out — blood, sweat and tears — just for one moment and that's to hold that trophy."
The White House visit is officially scheduled for Sunday, April 28. Whether Hurts will be among those in attendance remains unclear.
