Donald Trump created a historical moment on 9 February when he became the first incumbent US president to grace the Super Bowl.
Interestingly, he didn’t linger at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome for an extended period and was observed exiting early by onlookers.
There has been substantial discussion regarding Trump’s Super Bowl appearance.
The event, where the Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 40-22, saw the politician reacting awkwardly when Taylor Swift faced boos from NFL fans in a video that quickly went viral.
Trump caused discomfort among many viewers by giving a salute from the sidelines during the national anthem, despite never having served in the military.
One speculation proposed that he had favored the Chiefs to win – hence his disgruntlement at their loss. Meanwhile, others were primarily concerned about the notion that Trump had squandered taxpayer funds by attending only a fraction of the game.
“Taxpayers footed the bill of over $20 million for Convict Donald Trump to witness only half of the Super Bowl,” the latter remarked on X.
“Reports indicate his departure before Halftime. Where is DOGE?”
Nonetheless, as per the Mail, the father-of-five had always intended to bow out from the celebrations at that juncture, with the official White House itinerary allegedly stipulating his exit from the stadium at approximately 8.05pm local time.
He would then board Air Force One, as part of a complex maneuver that enabled him to make history as the first incumbent president to ever grace a Super Bowl match.
His departure naturally posed a significant security concern for Trump, who had been targeted in multiple as-sassi-na-tion attempts in 2024 during his presidential run.
According to the publication, the politician had the backing of the US Secret Service on the night, along with hundreds of local law enforcement officers.
Following the recent terror incident on Bourbon Street in New Orleans – resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, numerous injuries, and the assailant being fatally shot by the police – security measures had to be heightened even further for Trump’s attendance.
To prevent Trump from being engulfed by the crowds – totaling 80,000 people – as the game concluded, it was purportedly always scheduled for him to depart ahead of the final minutes.
Trump reportedly returned to Washington, D.C. at 11.51pm.
