On Friday, President Joe Biden urgently known as for an finish to the Israel-Hamas struggle. He solemnly mentioned the rule of legislation after former President Donald Trump’s legal conviction. And he donned a shiny crimson helmet to the whoops and cheers of a pack of soccer gamers and followers.
The go to to the White Home by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to rejoice their second straight Tremendous Bowl win gave the president a couple of moments of frivolity in every week replete with sobering occasions.
“Profitable back-to-back — I type of like that,” Biden stated, hinting on the robust reelection bid he faces in his rematch with Trump. He added, “When the doubters query in case you can pull it off once more, imagine me, I do know what that seems like.”
The South Garden celebration was a blip on the president’s schedule, squeezed between a gathering with the prime minister of Belgium and his weekend plans in Rehoboth Seashore, Delaware, throughout a month with an limitless string of marketing campaign occasions. But, with among the NFL’s most well-known names, it carried a sure movie star wattage.
Nonetheless, the highlight was far dimmer than it may have been. Taylor Swift didn’t make the journey together with her boyfriend, star tight finish Travis Kelce, as she was touring in Europe and had carried out in Madrid on Thursday evening.
The White Home had beforehand stated it was as much as the workforce whether or not to increase an invite to the star musician, who has largely prevented embroiling herself in politics. She endorsed Biden in 2020, resulting in hypothesis about whether or not she would accomplish that once more.
The ceremony on the South Garden got here after Kansas Metropolis’s Tremendous Bowl win in February, however simply over a month after Swift launched her newest album — which has no less than one observe that nods to Kelce, who, as she sings, is aware of “how one can ball.”
“Travis, the place’s Taylor?” a journalist shouted close to the tip of the ceremony, prompting a murmur of disapproval from the gang. Kelce, in a light-colored go well with and darkish shades, didn’t seem to react to the query.
Biden nudged Kelce to the rostrum in the course of the ceremony, however stated that he was apprehensive: “I’d have Travis come up right here, however God solely is aware of what he’d say.”
Kelce, who sneaked as much as the microphone eventually yr’s ceremony however was redirected by quarterback Patrick Mahomes earlier than he may make any remarks, was much less daring Friday.
“They advised me if I come up right here, I’d get Tased,” Kelce joked on the podium. He then rapidly rejoined his teammates.
Additionally in attendance was kicker Harrison Butker, who attracted controversy this month for a graduation handle at a Catholic liberal arts school wherein he steered that being a “homemaker” was a lady’s most necessary function. He additionally disparaged Satisfaction Month, drawing rebukes from LGBTQ teams. Butker stood silently within the again row alongside his teammates.
Coach Andy Reid and Clark Hunt, the workforce’s CEO, rounded out the ceremony by giving Biden a helmet to go along with the customized jersey he was introduced with final yr. Reid scrambled to drag off Biden’s aviators because the president slipped it on to cheers of “Do it, do it!”
Biden praised the workforce for its response to a capturing in February at a celebration of its Tremendous Bowl win in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, that left one lady lifeless and dozens wounded, together with a number of youngsters.
“One teen remembers Coach Reid giving him a hug, saying, ‘Simply breathe, simply breathe,’” Biden stated. He added, “As a rustic, now we have to do extra to cease the tragic shootings earlier than they occur.”
Talking to reporters shortly after the ceremony on the South Garden, Mahomes stated it was particular to see the president don a Kansas Metropolis helmet. “We didn’t count on that,” he stated, including, “You don’t take these moments as a right.”
Extensive receiver Xavier Worthy, who was drafted by the workforce final month, paused a White Home tour to step as much as the rostrum contained in the briefing room and tease a 3rd successful season: “Three-peat, child.”
He and several other different gamers had already appeared to grasp one in every of Washington’s oldest trades: When requested whether or not they would get entangled in Biden’s reelection bid, they didn’t reply.