Harrison Butker’s White House Visit with Chiefs: From Commencement Critique to Presidential Reception
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker joined his teammates for a celebration of their second consecutive Super Bowl win at the White House on Friday, May 31. This came just weeks after Butker made critical remarks about President Biden during a commencement speech at Benedictine College.
Speculation arose regarding the 28-year-old NFL player’s attendance at the event after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refrained from commenting on Butker’s presence ahead of the visit.
During the ceremony, Butker maintained a solemn demeanor, standing in the background as the president honored the team. However, he appeared to briefly smile as President Biden made light-hearted remarks about the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victories.
Butker’s graduation speech on May 11 stirred controversy as he directly criticized President Biden’s leadership and policies. Despite this, the mood at the White House event was festive, with President Biden even receiving cheers as he donned a Kansas City Chiefs football helmet. Butker was seen laughing along with his teammates during the president’s playful moments.
President Biden’s address took a more somber turn as he honored the victims of the Super Bowl parade mass shooting that occurred earlier in the year. Nevertheless, he concluded his speech with an optimistic outlook on the future, emphasizing the resilience and unity of the American people.
In the aftermath of Butker’s commencement speech, some of his Chiefs teammates, including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, distanced themselves from his remarks while expressing continued support for him as a teammate.
Despite their differing views, both Mahomes and Kelce emphasized Butker’s character, acknowledging that they may not always agree with his opinions. Ultimately, they affirmed their respect and camaraderie with him as part of the team.
