It is no surprise that the Super Bowl attracts some of the biggest names in entertainment every year, considering how massive the event is in American sports.
This year followed that same pattern. Taylor Swift was among the celebrities who showed up, and she was joined by other stars like Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Jon Hamm, Bradley Cooper, Tina Fey, Kevin Hart, and many others who all made their way to Caesars Superdome.
Still, none of these appearances drew as much attention as that of the President. Though Donald Trump had only spent a few weeks in office, he still attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans, where the Philadelphia Eagles went up against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He exited the stadium during halftime, at which point the Eagles had already taken a comfortable lead and later wrapped up the match with a 40-22 win.
Was Security Tightened for the Event?
Extra security measures were already expected. With Donald Trump in attendance, more personnel were deployed. But even before that, security levels had been raised due to a tragic incident on January 1 in New Orleans, where 14 people lost their lives. That event also led to the delay of the Sugar Bowl, so this Super Bowl already had high security plans in place.
Have Other Presidents Been to the Super Bowl?
Donald Trump made history as the first sitting U.S. President to go to the Super Bowl. Before him, only past presidents had attended. George H. W. Bush, for example, took part in the coin toss during the 2002 game, which also happened to be held in New Orleans.
Vice presidents, though, have been more common at the event. Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, was present at the game back in 2017, shortly after the inauguration that marked the beginning of Trump’s term.
How Did the Crowd React to Trump?
When Trump’s face showed up on the Jumbotron during the national anthem, the stadium responded with loud cheers. He had earlier stepped onto the field before the game began, where Chris Jones, the Chiefs’ star defensive tackle, approached him to offer a handshake.
Trump did not attend the event alone. He was invited by Gayle Benson, who owns the New Orleans Saints, and they sat together in a suite. Also sharing the space with the President were several members of his Cabinet, a few U.S. Senators, and other high-ranking guests.
