Harrison Butker Attends White House Visit As Chiefs Reach For 'Unifying Joy'
First, the answers everyone wanted about the Kansas City Chiefs White House visit on Friday No, Taylor Swift was not present. And, yes, kicker Harrison Butker was.
The Chiefs' kicker who stated during a commencement speech at Benedictine College on May 11 that President Biden "is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally," stood maybe 10 feet from Biden on Friday afternoon.
Butker was in the back row among Chiefs players gathered on the White House lawn for a ceremony meant to celebrate the Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII.
Cordial And Joking On Stage
It's unclear if the kicker and the president spoke.
It is clear Biden and the Chiefs were cordial to one another.
Coach Andy Reid gifted Biden a Chiefs helmet. Which the Commander-in-Chief promptly put on.
He didn't look very cool, by the way.
Club Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, who is a conservative from Texas, set the tone for the visit.
"As a family, we feel very blessed by the Lord," Hunt said. "And I am proud to be here today on the south lawn with my wife Tavia and my sister Sharon and several members of our extended family.
"One year ago, it so happened we visited the White House a day after my mother passed away. Of course, anytime we're celebrating a Chiefs victory, I always think about my mom and dad.
Kansas City Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt speaks during a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs, 2024 Super Bowl champions, hosted by the US president on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2024. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
"I want to take a moment to say, ‘Thank you,’ President Biden, for the very kind words you shared about my mother last year. That meant a lot to our family.
"The amazing thing about sports is how they bring a community together. Over the past few years the men behind me have elevated the status of Kansas City and united football fans across the nation and throughout the world.
"There's a lot that can divide us today, but for so many of us, sports provide a unifying joy that we all need."
Biden, for his part, tried to keep it light. He did have a moment when he dipped his toes into politics when he said, referencing the shooting at the Chiefs victory parade, that something must be done to prevent gun tragedies.
Biden is a gun-control advocate and made statements about limiting firearms immediately after that incident.
But it was otherwise lighthearted.
The Kansas City Chiefs visited the White House on Friday to celebrate their second straight Super Bowl win, and gave President Biden a very practical git for the notoriously clumsy world leader. (Getty Images)
Biden Tells Jokes
"Welcome back," Biden yelled into his microphone. "Welcome back to the White House. Super Bowl 58 champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. The first team in 20 years to win back-to-back.
"Winning back-to-back. I kind of like that."
Biden invited Travis Kelce to join him at the podium one year after the tight end tried to take over the podium when Biden was away. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes stopped him.
Not this time.
"Travis, come here," Biden said. "It's all yours, pal."
Kelce was at the mike and had a moment. Then he thought better of it.
"My fellow Americans," Kelce kidded, "It's nice to see you all yet again. I'm not going to lie, President Biden, they told me if I came up here I was going to get [tasered] so I'm going to go back to my spot."