Not just going for the game.
President Donald Trump will become the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl in person this evening when he heads to the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
But he’s not just going to New Orleans to have a good time and enjoy some football.
According to CBS, ahead of the game Trump is expected to meet with victims and family members of the horrific New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, which left 14 dead and dozens more injured.
The victims and family members will also serve as honorary coin toss participants at the game.
The ISIS-inspired attack in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day put security at the front of mind for this year’s Super Bowl, with the city facing criticism for the lack of security on Bourbon Street when Shamsud-Din Jabbar was able to bypass a police car blocking the entrance to the street and run down partygoers with his truck before crashing into a construction lift and then getting into a shootout with police.
New Orleans had installed bollards at the entrance to Bourbon Street a few years ago, but those weren’t functional at the time of the attack, which the city blamed on maintenance issues and Mardi Gras beads. But the day after the tragedy, the city installed large metal barricades called archers that are meant to block off both the street and the sidewalk to vehicle traffic. And when asked why the archers weren’t in place for New Years, New Orleans police chief Anne Kirkpatrick made the stunning admission that…she didn’t even know they had them.
Regardless, it seems like security has been beefed up around New Orleans, with heavy law enforcement and National Guard presence as well as checkpoints around the French Quarter. And there’s no doubt that security will be even heavier today with President Trump in attendance.
The president has made clear who he’s cheering for in today’s game, praising Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany Mahomes, who publicly supported Trump during the 2024 election.
In a tweet earlier this week, the president had high praise for the couple while congratulating them on the birth of their third child, Golden Raye:
“Congratulations to the Chiefs GREAT Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and his very beautiful and BRILLIANT wife, Brittany, on the birth of their new baby daughter, Golden Raye. This is what I call a baby with great genes, both mother and father. It’s happy times in the wonderful Mahomes family. See you all on Sunday!”
Congratulations to the Chiefs GREAT Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and his very beautiful and BRILLIANT wife, Brittany, on the birth of their new baby daughter, Golden Raye. This is what I call a baby with great genes, both mother and father. It’s happy times in the wonderful…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 6, 2025
And last year, he complimented Brittany Mahomes after she came under attack from fans of Taylor Swift for supporting the then-GOP candidate:
“I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country.
With Crime and Illegal Immigration totally out of control, INFLATION Ravaging all Americans, and a World that is laughing at the stupidity of our hapless “leaders,” it is nice to see someone who loves our Country, and wants to save it from DOOM. What a great couple – See you both at the Super Bowl!”
I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me, and the fact that MAGA is the greatest and most powerful Political Movement in the History of our now Failing Country. With Crime and Illegal Immigration totally out of control, INFLATION Ravaging all…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 4, 2024
There’s no word on whether Trump will be meeting with Brittany Mahomes while they’re in the Dome, but it sounds like he’s got a much more important group of people that he’ll be meeting with ahead of the game.
One of the survivors of the attack who will be in attendance at the game is 27-year old Ryan Quigley, who was injured in the attack that claimed the life of his friend and former Princeton University football player Tiger Bech.
Quigley was surprised with the invitation by the Philadelphia Eagles after he and Bech had made plans to attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans if their Birds made it to the game.
