Photos: President Trump arrives at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (NEXSTAR) — In addition to the history that may be made on the field, the U.S. will see a first in a seating box at the Caesars Superdome during Super Bowl LIX: a sitting president will be in attendance.
President Donald Trump confirmed last week that he would be at the stadium in New Orleans as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Trump arrived in New Orleans shortly before kickoff after telling reporters aboard Air Force One that 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum are coming Monday, and that Sunday was the first-ever Gulf of America Day.
At around 4:30 p.m. CT, Trump was seen walking out of the tunnel at the Superdome.
President Donald Trump walks onto the field before the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump walks onto the field prior to Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
US President Donald Trump visits the field before the start of Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump (C) attends the Super Bowl LIX Pregame at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation) 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: U.S. President Donald Trump walks onto the field prior to Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) 
President Donald Trump, right, with his grandson Theodore, walks on the field before the start of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Cameras also captured Trump shaking hands with Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Upon arriving at the Caesars Superdome, Trump participated in a meet-and-greet with this year’s honorary coin toss participants, including victims’ family members, members of the New Orleans Police Department and other emergency personnel.
US President Donald Trump poses with New Orleans law enforcement officers and victims of the New Year’s Day attack as he visits the field before the start of Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) 
US President Donald Trump poses with New Orleans law enforcement officers and victims of the New Year’s Day attack as he visits the field before the start of Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
While Trump is often seen in a red tie, it could be a nod to something else: his apparent fandom for the Chiefs.
After the Chiefs clinched the AFC Championship, Trump took to Truth Social to congratulate the team. Innocuous, sure — except, as eagled-eye Philadelphia Eagles fans noticed, he didn’t congratulate the NFC champions. (Trump even congratulated the Buffalo Bills, who lost to the Chiefs.)
In his interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier — filmed Saturday but aired Sunday — Trump predicted the Chiefs would win but noted that “Philadelphia has a fantastic game,” adding that “it’s going to be a great game.”
Trump went on to call himself “a big fan of both teams.”
During his first term in office, Trump canceled a planned White House visit by the Eagles after they won the Super Bowl in 2018. At the time, some players reportedly decided to boycott the event, though Trump said it was because some Eagles players kneeled to protest police brutality during the national anthem.
However, there were reportedly no Eagles players who kneeled or remained in the locker room during the national anthem that season.
Trump has also praised Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany Mahomes. The latter has suggested her own support for Trump on social media, as The Hill has previously reported.
Super Bowl LIX will kick off at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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