Chiefs to Visit White House Next Week for Super Bowl Celebration

President Biden will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs back to the White House next Friday to celebrate their victory in Super Bowl 2024. This marks the team's second consecutive visit to the White House since their 2020 championship win. However, the invitation comes amid scrutiny due to Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's recent commencement speech, where he expressed his Catholic beliefs and criticized pro-choice policies.

President Biden will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs back to the White House next Friday to celebrate their Super Bowl 2024 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. This marks the team's second straight visit to the White House after winning the franchise's second championship in February.

The Chiefs were unable to attend the White House in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they will now return after becoming back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce presented President Biden with a jersey at the White House in June 2023 after their first Super Bowl win.

However, the invitation comes amid scrutiny since Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has faced backlash over his commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, on May 11. In the speech, Butker expressed his views as a Catholic, including his stance on abortion and the LGBTQ community.

Butker spoke directly to female graduates about the importance of being a homemaker, calling it "one of the most important titles of all." He also made reference to President Biden in his remarks when talking about "bad policies and poor leadership."

"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," Butker said. "He is not alone. From the man behind the COVID lockdowns to the people pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America, they all have a glaring thing in common: they are Catholic. This is an important reminder that being Catholic alone doesn't cut it."

After the immediate reaction to his speech, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked last week if Butker would be in attendance at the Super Bowl celebration.

Jean-Pierre said the entire team is invited for championship visits, but "it's up to the team who comes and who doesn't come."

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and star players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have spoken out in defense of Butker's character as a person and a teammate this week despite admitting they may not agree with his beliefs.

"I think Harrison is a great person and a great teammate. He's got his own beliefs, and I respect that," Mahomes said. "We're all entitled to our own opinions."

The Chiefs' visit to the White House is scheduled for next Friday, May 29. The team will meet with President Biden and participate in a photo op. This will be the team's second White House visit in three years and their third overall.