Controversial Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker joined his teammates at the White House reception on Friday, despite criticizing President Joe Biden in a recent speech.
The Kansas City star was in the back row as Biden welcomed the Super Bowl winners to DC to celebrate their second consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Earlier this month, Butker called Biden “delusional” and accused him of “supporting the murder of innocent babies” during a commencement speech in Kansas.
“Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally,” Butker said.
“He’s been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure it seems to many people that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.”
Harrison Butker (back row, third from right) joined his teammates at the White House.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicker (top row, center) recently criticized Joe Biden in a speech.
Butker also addressed Biden’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 1.2 million people in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those comments raised some uncertainty about whether the 28-year-old kicker would join Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Co in the nation’s capital.
But Butker was part of the group that posed for photos with the president and listened as Biden paid tribute to his victorious 2023 season and recalled the fatal mass shooting that followed at the Super Bowl parade.
Butker could even be seen smiling toward the end of the ceremony, after the president donned a red Chiefs helmet.
At the Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl celebration at the White House, Butker wore a tie that bore a pro-life Latin phrase.
Abortion has become an even more polarizing issue in the United States since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.
Butker previously said he has no plans to hold another silent protest during this year’s event, but insisted “a lot of thought” went into last year’s message.
But the 28-year-old was alongside Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and company in the south field.
Butker could even be seen smiling after the president put on a Chiefs helmet on Friday.
President Biden spoke on the South Lawn about the team’s success and the Super Bowl parade shooting, which killed Lisa López-Galván and injured two dozen others.
“We saw pride give way to tragedy,” he said Friday. ‘A beloved mother, a local DJ, was shot dead. Dozens of people were injured. In the midst of chaos, this team took a step forward again.”
Kansas City running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire protected a young child as tragedy unfolded nearby, while offensive lineman Trey Smith helped calm a child and gave him a WWE championship belt.
“Trey helped get people to safety,” Biden said. ‘One teenager remembers Coach Reid giving him a hug and telling him “just breathe, just breathe.”
‘A boy was separated from his father, Clyde helped protect him from harm. Clyde is exceptional. This team is exceptional.”
Butker called Biden ‘delusional’ and accused him of ‘supporting the murder of innocent babies’
Travis Kelce made another joke at the White House during the Chiefs’ visit to the Super Bowl
After giving his speech, the president joked, “I would have Travis come here, but God only knows what he would say,” before inviting Kelce to the microphone.
“My fellow Americans, it’s a pleasure to see you all again,” Kelce briefly joked, a flashback to the previous year, when he attempted to take the microphone at the event.
“I’m not going to lie, President Biden, they told me if I came up here they would Taser me, so I’m going back to my place,” Kelce said before shaking Biden’s hand.
After that, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt gave a speech. Once that was over, Biden was presented with a Chiefs helmet which he successfully placed on his head.
It is a long-standing tradition for championship sports teams, both professional and college, to be invited to the White House.
The Chiefs have won the Super Bowl three times in the last five years. In 2023, they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, first lady Jill Biden’s favorite football team. She grew up near Philadelphia and attended the game.
This year, Mahomes and company beat the San Francisco 49ers.