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Donald Trump | Source: Getty Images
Donald Trump | Source: Getty Images

Why Donald Trump Left So Early and 'The Worst Part of the Super Bowl'

Gaone Pule
Feb 11, 2025
10:39 A.M.

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.

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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."

Donald Trump shakes the hand of DT Chris Jones before Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

Donald Trump shakes the hand of DT Chris Jones before Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump stand for the national anthem during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump stand for the national anthem during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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."

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Donald Trump pictured during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

Donald Trump pictured during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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]."

(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump watch on during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

(L-R) Gayle Benson, Donald and Ivanka Trump watch on during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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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.

Donald Trump waves to spectators at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

Donald Trump waves to spectators at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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.

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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.

Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House on February 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

Donald Trump arrives on the South Lawn of the White House on February 10, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

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.

Donald Trump pictured with a security team at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

Donald Trump pictured with a security team at the Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Source: Getty Images

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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.

Implemented this season for player safety, the updated rule stops the kicking team from advancing until the receiving team touches the ball. While aimed at reducing collisions, it has drawn criticism — including from Trump, who reaffirmed his stance post-game.

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"The worst part of the Super Bowl, by far, was watching the Kickoff where, as the ball is sailing through the air, the entire field is frozen, stiff. College Football does not do it, and won't! Whose idea was it to ruin the Game?" he wrote in a Truth Social post.

In previous years, the collision often caused injuries on special teams. Now, kickoff units start five yards apart between the receiving team's 35- and 30-yard lines and can't move until the ball is caught.

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According to the NFL's operations website, the rule was introduced "to address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptable injury rate on kickoffs." The Competition Committee will review its renewal in 2025.

However, Trump's criticism of the new kickoff format is nothing new. During an appearance on the "Let's Go!" podcast, he voiced his disapproval to hosts Jim Gray and Bill Belichick, "[...] I watch football now and I see that kick off, and it looks weird to me. That thing looks weird, coach," he told Belichick.

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The New Yorker added, "I don't know. I hope you like it, but I think it hurts the game. I think when you have something good, you don't change it. I don't see why it's safer. Why is it safer? They're still crashing." Trump stated that if the coach approved of the rule, he was fine with it.

However, recalling his initial reaction, he questioned the change, saying he had watched it for the first time weeks earlier and thought, "What the hell are they doing to football?" Despite the controversy surrounding the new kickoff rule, the recent game itself made history for other reasons.

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Philadelphia's win marked the second Super Bowl title and stopped the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to secure a three-peat. The NFL championship delivered more than just a decisive Eagles victory — it became a spectacle of historic moments, off-field drama, and heated debates.

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From Trump's unprecedented attendance and early departure to Taylor Swift's mixed reception and Kelce's struggles on the field, the night stirred conversation beyond the final score. Meanwhile, the president's criticism of the NFL's new kickoff rule added another layer to the post-game discourse.

While the Eagles celebrated their championship win, the Chiefs fell short of making history, and the reactions surrounding the event ensured that its impact would linger well beyond the game itself.

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