The sitting U.S. president made history by attending the Super Bowl. One aspect left him less than pleased despite the excitement, and he shared what soured the experience.
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Donald Trump attended Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans but departed before the fourth quarter. While his decision to leave sparked curiosity, he later shared what stood out as “the worst part of the Super Bowl.”
Donald Trump shakes the hand of DT Chris Jones before Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
The presidents departure may have left questions unanswered, but the match delivered a decisive outcome. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs, securing a 40-22 victory.
Fans at home had multiple viewing options, some at no cost, while those in attendance paid a premium. The most affordable seats — located in the upper levels of the Superdome — started at $2,920 on StubHub and $3,000 on Ticketmaster, with some priced as high as $5,000.
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Ticket packages sold by the NFL began at $6,700, offering perks such as meet-and-greets, tailgate parties, and complimentary food and drinks. On average, a ticket cost $8,076 in the weeks leading up to the match, according to CBS Sports.
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The most expensive seats, near the Chiefs sideline, ranged from $8,650 to $12,000, though prices had peaked at $22,663 just a week earlier.
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While the Eagles triumph and ticket prices captured attention, the halftime show became another major talking point. Kendrick Lamars performance drew widespread interest, especially amid speculation surrounding his feud with Drake.
Trumps attendance also made history, as he became the first sitting president to be present at a Super Bowl. He was photographed standing for the national anthem alongside New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and his daughter, Ivanka Trump.
(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump stand for the national anthem during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
Despite his historic attendance, Trumps early departure did not go unnoticed. The businessman and former 45th president left before the end, sparking a debate across social media.
One X user remarked, “Donald Trump just left the Super Bowl early after watching KC get walloped after saying he was rooting for them. So much winning.”
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Donald Trump pictured during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
Another referenced Chiefs tight end Travis Kelces comments about playing before the president, “Imagine saying its an honor for Trump to watch you play at the Super Bowl only for him to leave early cause yall was getting beat so bad. LOOOOSSEEERRRRRR [sic].”
Others shared similar sentiments, with one posting, “thinking about travis saying its an honor to have trump at the super bowl just for him to leave halfway through the game because they were playing so badly [sic].”
(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump watch on during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
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However, not everyone criticized his decision. One user argued, “President Trump gives reporters enough to write 100 stories a day—you dont need to misrepresent what happened. He was always slated to leave early.”
Another noted the logistics of his exit, “Imagine the security nightmare for Secret Service if he stayed until the end and left at the same time as everyone else [sic].” A separate post called out Mail Onlines description of Trumps departure as “mysterious,” dismissing the characterization as exaggerated.
Donald Trump waves to spectators at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
While opinions varied on the presidents early exit, some criticized the cost to taxpayers for attending only part of the game. However, records show that his White House schedule had him departing at 8:05 p.m. Central Time, meaning his early departure was planned in advance.
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The decision was part of a carefully coordinated operation that allowed him to become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. Ensuring the safety of a high-profile figure in a massive venue poses significant challenges, which is why presidents often avoid large-scale public events.
Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House on February 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
When they do attend, security measures from the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement can disrupt normal proceedings.
To minimize logistical hurdles, it is not uncommon for presidents to leave before an event concludes. Otherwise, stadium security would need to hold back an audience of nearly 80,000 until the president had safely exited.
Donald Trump pictured with a security team at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images
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While Trumps early departure drew attention, he found a rule change on the field the most frustrating. After the game, he criticized the NFLs new kickoff rules.
Implemented this season for player safety, the updated rule stops the kicking team from advancing until the receiving team touches the ball. While aimed at reducing collisions, it has drawn criticism — including from Trump, who reaffirmed his stance post-game.
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“The worst part of the Super Bowl, by far, was watching the Kickoff where, as the ball is sailing through the air, the entire field is frozen, stiff. College Football does not do it, and wont! Whose idea was it to ruin the Game?” he wrote in a Truth Social post.
In previous years, the collision often caused injuries on special teams. Now, kickoff units start five yards apart between the receiving teams 35- and 30-yard lines and cant move until the ball is caught.
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According to the NFLs operations website, the rule was introduced “to address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptable injury rate on kickoffs.” The Competition Committee will review its renewal in 2025.
However, Trumps criticism of the new kickoff format is nothing new. During an appearance on the “Lets Go!” podcast, he voiced his disapproval to hosts Jim Gray and Bill Belichick, “[…] I watch football now and I see that kick off, and it looks weird to me. That thing looks weird, coach,” he told Belichick.
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The New Yorker added, “I dont know. I hope you like it, but I think it hurts the game. I think when you have something good, you dont change it. I dont see why its safer. Why is it safer? Theyre still crashing.” Trump stated that if the coach approved of the rule, he was fine with it.
However, recalling his initial reaction, he questioned the change, saying he had watched it for the first time weeks earlier and thought, “What the hell are they doing to football?” Despite the controversy surrounding the new kickoff rule, the recent game itself made history for other reasons.
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Philadelphias win marked the second Super Bowl title and stopped the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to secure a three-peat. The NFL championship delivered more than just a decisive Eagles victory — it became a spectacle of historic moments, off-field drama, and heated debates.
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From Trumps unprecedented attendance and early departure to Taylor Swifts mixed reception and Kelces struggles on the field, the night stirred conversation beyond the final score. Meanwhile, the presidents criticism of the NFLs new kickoff rule added another layer to the post-game discourse.
While the Eagles celebrated their championship win, the Chiefs fell short of making history, and the reactions surrounding the event ensured that its impact would linger well beyond the game itself.
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