The Kansas City Chiefs returned to the White House on Friday to celebrate their second consecutive Super Bowl victory, with President Joe Biden praising the franchise for becoming the first in 20 years to win back-to-back.
“I kind of like that,” Biden said, causing some laughter from the audience.
Players gathered behind Biden on the White House’s South Lawn for a ceremony that lasted less than 20 minutes. Biden discussed the Chiefs’ early season struggles before winning playoff games against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens to advance to the Super Bowl. He called quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who stood directly behind Biden, the “comeback king,” for his rally in the Super Bowl to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
Biden commended the Chiefs organization for its response following the Kansas City shooting during the Super Bowl parade, where one person was killed and at least 22 others were wounded. Biden highlighted Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith, who helped bring people to safety, and long snapper James Winchester, who “reassured kids they’d be OK.”
“Amid the chaos, this team stepped up again,” Biden said.
After his speech, Biden invited Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to the podium, who stole the show last year with a comedic bit.
“My fellow Americans … it’s nice to see all of you yet again,” Kelce said amid cheers from the crowd.
“I’m not going to lie, President Biden. They told me if I came up here, I would get tased, so I’m going to go back to my spot,” Kelce said amid more laughter from the crowd before returning to his place.
The ceremony ended with Chiefs coach Andy Reid and owner Lamar Hunt presenting Biden with a team helmet. Biden put the helmet on, causing the players attending to break out in laughter and applause.
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Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was in attendance, standing in the top row behind Biden. Butker recently criticized Biden for how the president handled several issues, including abortion and the COVID-19 pandemic, in a commencement address at Benedictine College earlier this month. Butker also questioned Biden’s devotion to Catholicism.
“While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique,” Butker said. “Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as the growing support for degenerate cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.
“Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally. He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.”
Friday’s ceremony, however, came and went without a mention of Butker’s criticisms.
This is the second consecutive year the Chiefs attended the White House ceremony to celebrate their Super Bowl win. Before the Chiefs accepted Biden’s invitation last year, just one of the NFL’s past five championship teams — the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — visited the White House.
(Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
