Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2025
April 28, 2025
The President. Well, thank you very much, everybody. It's an honor to be with this incredible group of champions. Great team.
And we are thrilled to welcome everyone to the White House—special place—and to celebrate the Super Bowl LIX champion: the Philadelphia Eagles.
And it's—that was a special day. That was a big one.
But the Eagles have turned out to be an incredible team, an incredible group, with a fantastic coach and coaches. And having you at the White House is very, very special and important, and we appreciate you being here.
And I think what we're going to do is—on occasion, when we have a really great championship team, we bring them over to the Oval Office after we're finished, and they get a chance to look at some incredible real estate—[laughter]—and some—we have a little—a little present for each and every one of them, and it's a terrific present. So we're going to do that for this team. Okay? And we'll do that, and we'll walk down to the Oval Office.
Who knows? One of them may soon be sitting in that seat. You know? They become famous, and we sure as hell know they're good athletes. No, they have to have some other ability, and they do, and we'll see what happens.
But I especially want to recognize the Eagles' owner, chairman, and CEO: Jeffrey Lurie.
Where is Jeffrey? Jeffrey. Where is Jeffrey? Where is he? Where is——
Philadelphia Eagles Owner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Lurie. Thanks, Mr. President.
The President. Nice to see you.
Mr. Lurie. I'm your neighbor.
The President. Congratulations. That's right. [Laughter] He's my neighbor. He's right. [Laughter] That's—and he's a good neighbor. [Laughter]
As well as your general manager, Howie Roseman. Howie.
And you spirited coach, Nick Sirianni. Nick, you are a spirited guy. Head Coach Nick Sirianni. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Thank you, Nick.
Well, you know, a lot of people, they doubted. Well, they always doubt championship teams.
And then they become championship teams, they never doubt them again.
But Nick proved the doubters wrong and brought the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia, and convincingly.
We also have to recognize the Eagles' head of security. You know, this is a guy—they say he loves Trump. This is a guy—and I had Saquon give him a big, beautiful hat last night, because I've been hearing about this guy. He likes Trump. [Laughter] His name is Dominic DiSandro— "Big Dom"—and he's sort of a legend. Come here, Dom. Come here.
Chief Adviser to the General Manager and Chief Security Officer Dominic DiSandro. Thank you, sir.
The President. Say a few words, Dom. I hear this guy is just—come here.
Mr. DiSandro. I'd just like to say thank you. We're honored to be here. Thank you, President Trump. And that's it. Go Birds! [Laughter] Thank you, guys. [Inaudible] Thank you so much.
The President. Thank you.
Mr. DiSandro. Appreciate it.
The President. He's a big part of the team, that's what I hear.
But I want to thank also some incredible talent and representatives for our country.
Pam Bondi is here. She's doing such a great job—good job on television this morning too, Pam. She's incredible. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor. Scott Turner, HUD. Hello, Scott. You're doing good.
I want to thank you all for being here.
Senator Dave McCormick. David, thank you. Good. Come on up here, David. Come on. Representatives Rob Bresnahan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, Dan Meuser, Burgess Owens, Lloyd Smucker, G.T. Thompson, and Jeff Van Drew.
And we have a lot of other Congressmen here, but I have no idea who they are because I can't see you in all these people—[laughter]—but I apologize. See, they'll never speak to me again now. [Laughter] They'll be angry, but I just don't know who you might be right now.
As well as Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday. Thank you, Dave. Good job, Dave.
And Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Thank you very much. Thank you, Stacy.
We have a lot of great politicians out there.
For Eagles fans, the road to this day has been long, but the journey has been well worth it. I would say, Jeffrey, that was a great journey for you, huh? It was great for you and for everybody else.
And it's—it—look at the size of this guy. [Laughter] This guy is—you know, when I walked up, I said, "You know, you just stay here a little bit. I'll walk up in front of you," because I didn't want to get anywhere near him. [Laughter] The size of you, and——
Offensive tackle Lane Johnson. I'll stand back.
The President. ——and the greatness as a player too, that I can tell you.
Two years ago, the Eagles came incredibly close to football immortality in Super Bowl LVII. You remember that game.
Audience members. Boo!
The President. But after a hard-fought game, you suffered a really heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs by just 3 points. It looked like you had the game. This past year, the Eagles were determined to get it back, and get it back they did.
The season started off slow, but you soon caught fire, with your great coach inspiring you. And you got the ball to your superstar running back, who I met yesterday. And I want to tell you, he is a handsome guy—[laughter]—but I wouldn't want to tackle him. Saquon Barkley. Where is Saquon? Where is he?
Running back Saquon Barkley. Good seeing you again.
The President. I offered him a ride on Air Force One. He took it. [Laughter]
He's great. I got to know him a little bit. I offered him a ride on Air Force One, because I was coming down. And usually, they say, "No, no, I don't think so." He said, "I'll take it, sir." [Laughter] And he loved it. We loved being together. He's a great young guy and an incredible football player.
Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL, featuring—that's true, huh? That's pretty—that's what they say.
Participant. [Inaudible]
The President. That's a big group. We're going to introduce them.
Jordan Mailata. Where is Jordan? Come here, Jordan. Look at the size of you. [Laughter]
Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata. Pleasure to meet you.
The President. Thank you, Jordan. These are big people. [Laughter] Landon Dickerson. Where is Landon?
Offensive guard Landon Dickerson. Thank you. Appreciate it.
The President. Congratulations. Great.
Six-time Pro Bowler right tackle, Lane Johnson. That's Lane. Six-time, wow. That's pretty good.
How is he—is he better than you guys? I don't know. [Laughter]
Mr. Dickerson. Oh, yes.
The President. Six-time Pro Bowl, that's pretty good.
In week nine against Jacksonville, Saquon performed football magic while racking up a total 119 yards—99 yards—almost 200 yards—two touchdowns. In the second quarter, he caught the ball, dodged two tacklers, and then hurtled backward over another diving defender—sending him flying through Saquon's legs. You remember that one. I said, "Oh, that's a dangerous play," but— [laughter]—he doesn't care about danger on the football field.
And by the way, I have to tell you something. I was with the Giants and the head coach and some people, and I said, "Do anything you have to, but don't lose Saquon." They lost Saquon. [Laughter] That was not good. They—I called that one. That was an easy one to call, because he played damn well for the Giants, I can tell you that. But he made his—he made the right decision, because it is a team sport, and he has great people on this team.
This unforgettable display of athleticism will soon be seen in highlight reels, and you've seen a lot of it. I've seen that game numerous times. They play it over and over. It was an amazing game, the final game, and a little bit surprising that either team would have won by so much.
But ultimately, Saquon rushed for more than 2,500 yards in the regular season and playoffs combined—an NFL record. Think of that. All those years. And he was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. That's pretty good, Saquon.
His golf isn't quite as good, but—[laughter].
Audience members. MVP! MVP! MVP!
The President. [Laughter] So I want to congratulate him. What a guy.
Complementing Saquon's historic season was an incredible year from star quarterback Jalen Hurts, and he really—he played a—he had a great season and a great game. Finished with 32 touchdowns in the year, turning in one stellar performance after another. Terrific guy and a terrific player.
On defense, the Eagles finished the regular season with the fewest yards allowed per game thanks, in large part, to talented young stars like safety Reed Blankenship. Where is Reed? Come on up here, Reed.
Safety Reed Blankenship. How's it going?
The President. How are you?
Mr. Blankenship. I'm great. Nice to meet you. It's an honor.
The President. Boy, oh, boy, you're something, huh?
Mr. Blankenship. Thank you.
The President. Do you want to say something to the crowd? Come on. Say something. Look at this guy.
Mr. Blankenship. [Laughter] I don't have a lot to say, but go Birds, even in DC. So thank
you.
The President. Congratulations.
Mr. Blankenship. Thank you so much.
The President. Congratulations.
And on defense, the Eagles finished—is really legendary, because, I think, probably it's been
one of the greatest finishes in football history. In week 11, against Washington, Reed had 10 tackles overall and an interception in the fourth quarter to seal the win. That was a big one. That was a rough game for the opposing team. That's one of those that you don't sleep very well, but you guys came back, and you did an incredible job just to get through.
The Eagles ended the regular season at 14 and 3, with only three playoff games standing in the way of the Super Bowl in New Orleans. After beating the Green Bay Packers in the first game, the Eagles won a close one against the Los Angeles Rams. All good games.
Then, in the NFC Championship game against Washington, Saquon took his very first handoff for a 60-yard touchdown and then added another touchdown minutes later. And, you know, Saquon is a good golfer, but he's a much better football player, in case you had an-— [laughter]—in case you had any thoughts of doing something else, Saquon. [Laughter]
Soon, thanks to 55 points in the day, the Eagles punched their ticket to a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs. And you know what happened. It was an incredible game. A little surprising, but right from the beginning of the first quarter of the big game—which I was there. I watched in person. I was there along with Taylor Swift. How did that work out? [Laughter]
Audience members. Boo!
The President. How did that one work out? [Laughter]
The Eagles scored a touchdown on their signature play, the "tush push." You know what that is? Or as—I hope they keep that play, Coach. I don't know. Right?
Mr. Sirianni. Yeah, it's been good.
it.
The President. You know, they're——
Mr. Sirianni. Yes. [Inaudible]
The President. They're talking about getting rid of that play, I understand. They should keep
What do you think, Saquon? I like it. You have guys like this pushing you around a little bit.
[Laughter] I like it. It's sort of exciting and different.
And I would like to see something done—I'd like to go back to the regular kickoff, however.
We don't like that kickoff where nobody's moving. The ball is in the air, and nobody's moving. But I won't ask the coach or Lane or any of the people about that. But, as a fan, I don't know. I'm not sure, Jeffrey. [Laughter]
Or some of the people, they call it the "brotherly shove"—you know, the other.
Meanwhile, the ferocious Eagles defense pressured the Chief's offense on almost every snap, causing six snaps—sacks and three turnovers, including a phenomenal interception return for the touchdown by a spectacular rookie, Cooper DeJean.
Audience members. Coop!
The President. Where is Cooper? Come on up here, Cooper.
Mr. Barkley. Speak to the people.
The President. You look like a star.
Defensive back Cooper DeJean. Thank you. Great to meet you.
The President. He's got to be pretty fast, right?
Executive Vice President and General Manager Howie Roseman. He's a—[inaudible].
Mr. DeJean. [Laughter] All right.
The President. Good job.
Cooper made the play of his life, and he did it on his 22d birthday. Wow, you're a young guy, huh? [Laughter]
A short time later, a touchdown pass right before halftime and another one in the third quarter helped put the game on ice. And at the final whistle, the green and white confetti rained down on the scoreboard. It was 40 to 22. And I think maybe the Eagles themselves were surprised. But, boy, they played great. They looked unbeatable. It was a great moment for an incredible group of people.
Throughout their extraordinary season, the amazing group of warriors—and that's what they are; they're really modern-day warriors—inspired the world with incredible spirit, athletic dominance, and exceptional teamwork. And you made the Eagles fans everywhere really very proud. Whether you're an Eagle fan or not, they were proud to watch a team of such great power and dominance.
And you really—you have a whole life to lead, and you can say you've done it. You've done something that very few people are able to do.
We've seen a lot of great teams, Lane and Coach. We've seen a lot of great teams, but they don't ever get to where you've already gotten.
And you're a young guy to be coach. Oh, I'd like to be his manager right now. [Laughter] I'd like to be him. I'd pick up my little 10 percent for doing nothing. [Laughter]
So I want to congratulate once again. And let me just say: Fly, Eagles, fly. Right?
And with that, I want to bring up one of the great offensive linemen, really, of all time.
When you're a six-time All-Pro, that's really something. And, Lane Johnson, come up and say a few words.
Congratulations. You're really something special. Thank you.
Mr. Johnson. Thank you.
[At this point, Mr. Johnson adjusted the microphone.] Move this up a little bit.
Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing us to be here, sending us the invitation. What an incredible year it was for us, really having the chance to play the team that we lost to a couple years before and come through.
But I want to thank Mr. Lurie just for creating a championship organization and culture. Howie Roseman, putting the time in. Everybody on the coaching staff. Just what a wonderful season it was, and we're not done. We're ready for another round.
So thank you all. And go Birds!
The President. Coach, would you like to say something?
Audience members. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!
Mr. Sirianni. Sure. Yes, sir.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, for having us here. And we also appreciate the endorsement for the tush push. [Laughter] We really appreciate that. And go Birds!
The President. Thank you.
Mr. Sirianni. Thank you.
The President. Jeffrey, maybe you could say a few words. You've done an amazing job in putting this team together. Come on up. Thanks. Great job.
Mr. Lurie. Thanks, Mr. President. You know, it's truly an honor to be here. I remember as a little boy the championship teams that came to the White House, and I never dreamed we'd be able to, you know, have a team and be as good as this.
And this was a dominant team with incredible culture. Everything we all believe in as the best human values—selflessness, humility, teamwork, talent, discipline—everything that we all strive for, this team incorporated.
So thank you for the hospitality today. And go Birds.
[The President was presented with a team jersey and helmet.]
The President. Oh, that's great. Thank you. Wow. Whoa! That's pretty good.
Participant. Show him the front.
The President. That's pretty good. Thank you, Coach.
Participant. Show him the front.
The President. Wow. It's beautiful.
[White House staff removed the podium from the stage.]
Mr. Johnson. Need any help with that?
The President. He's going to help. [Laughter] Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.
NOTE: The President spoke at 4:20 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Glenn W. "G.T." Thompson; Brian Daboll, head coach, National Football League's New York Giants; and musician Taylor Swift. The transcript was released by the Office of Communications on April 29.
Categories: Addresses and Remarks : 2024 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Locations: Washington, DC.
Names: Barkley, Saquon; Blankenship, Reed; Bondi, Pamela J.; Bresnahan, Rob; Chavez- DeRemer, Lori M.; Daboll, Brian; DeJean, Cooper; Dickerson, Landon; DiSandro, Dominic; Fitzpatrick, Brian K.; Garrity, Stacy; Johnson, Lane; Lurie, Jeffrey; Mackenzie, Ryan; Mailata, Jordan; McCormick, David; Meuser, Daniel P.; Owens, Burgess; Roseman, Howie; Sirianni, Nick; Smucker, Lloyd K.; Sunday, David W.; Swift, Taylor; Thompson, Glenn W. "G.T."; Turner, E. Scott; Van Drew, Jefferson H.
Subjects: Attorney General; Football; Secretary of Housing and Development; Secretary of Labor.
DCPD Number: DCPD202500531.