Key Takeaways:

• The Philadelphia Eagles have expressed willingness to visit the White House if invited by President Donald Trump following their recent Super Bowl victory.
• Reports of the Eagles declining an invite have been publicly discredited by officials and NFL insiders.
• Past tensions related to Trump’s policies have made this potential visit a topic of debate and interest.
• This will be the Eagles' first visit to the White House since their Super Bowl win in 2018, which was canceled by Trump.
• Social media reactions have varied widely from support to outrage regarding the team's stance on a White House visit.

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to accept an invitation to the White House after their impressive Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs. In contrast to rampant speculation that the team would decline the invitation due to previous disputes with President Donald Trump over his national anthem policies, recent reports confirm a keen interest from the Eagles in attending the customary visit to celebrate their championship. This interest follows Trump’s earlier comments during a press event where he stated that, “Absolutely, they'll be extended an invitation," underscoring the tradition that champions are welcomed to the White House.

The Eagles previously faced backlash and criticism when, after their 2018 Super Bowl victory, their invitation to the White House was withdrawn by Trump, who claimed several players expressed their disagreement with his national anthem stance. This year, sources from within the Eagles organization indicated they are “honored” and “look forward” to receiving the official invitation, as confirmed by NFL insiders including Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport via CBS News.

The recent narrative of the Eagles potentially snubbing the White House has roots in a report by The U.S. Sun that quickly set off a social media storm, drawing sharp criticism from conservative commentators and fans alike. Sports journalist Clay Travis commented that the reports of rejection were "fake news," asserting that the team is enthusiastic about a visit, as noted in reports from HuffPost.

Attempting to clarify this situation, the White House later confirmed that no formal invitation had been extended yet, but speculation about the visit has reignited discussions about the political implications of such visits, which have become fraught with symbolism in the current era. The Eagles’ owner, Jeffrey Lurie, has previously been critical of Trump, raising questions about the dynamics of this visit.

Ultimately, the Eagles appear eager to break the cycle of controversy that surrounded their last victory celebration with a much-anticipated formal invitation by the President, marking an important moment in the ongoing intersection of sports and politics.

For further reading on the Eagles and their plans, visit USA Today, Newsweek, and BBC.