Donald Trump will attend Sunday's Super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana
Donald Trump will make history this weekend by becoming the first sitting president of the United States of America to attend the Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The city was devastated by a terror attack on New Year's Day when 14 people were killed on Bourbon Street.
Though previous presidents such as Ronald Reagan have performed the pre-match coin toss from the White House, no sitting president has ever attended the event.
"Security measures have been further enhanced this year, given that this will be the first time a sitting president of the United States will attend the event," Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Super Bowl is "the biggest homeland security event that we do every year".
Trump's attendance is likely to be controversial given his comments about the NFL throughout his political career.
Trump, an outspoken critic of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, has questioned the patriotism of NFL players who kneel during the playing of the US national anthem.
The taking of the knee was a movement designed to draw attention to the issues of racial injustice in the United States.
Sunday's Super Bowl will be the first in four years that will not display an "End Racism" message in the end zone, a "Choose Love" message will be used instead.
Since taking office, Trump has criticised non-discriminatory hiring practices aimed at improving workplace diversity.
The NFL denies the decision to remove the banners calling to end racism is connected to the current political climate.
"The Super Bowl is often a snapshot in time and the NFL is in a unique position to capture and lift the imagination of the country," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told AFP.
"Choose love is appropriate to use as our country has endured in recent weeks wildfires in southern California, the terrorist attack here in New Orleans, the plane and helicopter crash near our nation's capital and the plane crash in Philadelphia."
Goodell, meanwhile, says the NFL remains fully committed to promoting diversity through its inclusive hiring practices.
"I think we've proven to ourselves that it does make the NFL better," Goodell said.
"We're not in this because it's a trend to get into it or a trend to get out of it. Our efforts are fundamental in trying to attract the best possible talent into the NFL both on and off the field."
American presidents and the Super Bowl
Since starting in 1967, the Super Bowl has become the biggest event in the American sporting calendar.
Last year's Super Bowl, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs defend their crown, was the biggest US TV broadcast since the moon landing in 1969 with 123.4 million viewers.
Given the influence of the event on American culture, it is no surprise that politicians have become increasingly visible in its staging.
George Bush became the first former president to appear in person for the pre-match coin toss before Super Bowl 51 in Houston in 2017.
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan performed the coin toss via satellite from the White House.
Former President George W Bush started a Super Bowl tradition in 2004 by granting a pre-game interview to the official broadcaster.
Barack Obama continued the tradition but Joe Biden declined to give an interview two years in a row before leaving office in 2025.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials began a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to res...
Kazakhstan is holding a nationwide referendum on a new draft Constitution on Sunday (15 March) that could significantly reshape the country’s...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-launch of 12 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers on Satu...
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a t...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the lat...
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
Bahrain’s state-owned oil company Bapco has declared force majeure after an attack set the country’s only refinery ablaze. The firm says domestic supplies remain secure, but operations are disrupted by the ongoing Middle East conflict, underscoring regional energy risks.
A delegation from Georgia's ruling party visits Washington for a Congress and sovereignty summit this week, however analysts say Georgia remains largely absent from current U.S. regional priorities.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials began a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-launch of 12 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers on Saturday (14 March), state media KCNA said, after the United States and South Korea this week launched their annual large-scale military drills in South Korea.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment