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.
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.”The president’s 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.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.
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.While the Eagles’ triumph and ticket prices captured attention, the halftime show became another major talking point. Kendrick Lamar’s performance drew widespread interest, especially amid speculation surrounding his feud with Drake.
Trump’s 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.
Despite his historic attendance, Trump’s 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.
”Another referenced Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce’s comments about playing before the president, “Imagine saying ‘it’s an honor’ for Trump to watch you play at the Super Bowl only for him to leave early cause y’all was getting beat so bad. LOOOOSSEEERRRRRR [sic].”Others shared similar sentiments, with one posting, “thinking about travis saying it’s 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].”However, not everyone criticized his decision. One user argued, “President Trump gives reporters enough to write 100 stories a day—you don’t 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 Online’s description of Trump’s departure as “mysterious,” dismissing the characterization as exaggerated.
While opinions varied on the president’s 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.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.
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.While Trump’s early departure drew attention, he found a rule change on the field the most frustrating. After the game, he criticized the NFL’s new kickoff rules