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President Trump hosts the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles at the White House.
Transcript
00:00Well, thank you very much, everybody.
00:14It's an honor to be with this incredible group of champions, great team.
00:19And we're thrilled to welcome everyone to the White House special place
00:23and to celebrate the Super Bowl 59 champion, the Philadelphia Eagles.
00:30And it's that was a special day.
00:37That was a big one.
00:39But the Eagles have turned out to be an incredible team, an incredible group with a fantastic coach and coaches.
00:48And having you at the White House is very, very special and important.
00:53And we appreciate you being here.
00:55And I think what we're going to do is, on occasion, when we have a really great championship team,
01:02we bring them over to the Oval Office after we're finished.
01:05And they get a chance to look at some incredible real estate and some – we have a little present for each and every one of them.
01:15And it's a terrific present.
01:17And so we're going to do that for this team, okay?
01:19And we'll do that.
01:20And we'll walk down to the Oval Office.
01:22And who knows?
01:24One of them may soon be sitting in that seat, you know?
01:28They become famous.
01:29And we sure as hell know they're good athletes.
01:31Now they have to have some other ability.
01:33And they do.
01:34And we'll see what happens.
01:35But I especially want to recognize the Eagles' owner, chairman, and CEO, Jeffrey Lurie.
01:41Where is Jeffrey?
01:42Jeffrey, where is Jeffrey?
01:44He's my neighbors, right?
01:57And he's a good neighbor, as well as your general manager, Howie Roseman.
02:02Howie.
02:03And your spirited coach, Nick Sirianni.
02:16You are a spirited coach.
02:18Thank you, Nick.
02:22Well, you know, a lot of people, they doubted – well, they always doubt championship teams.
02:27And then they become championship teams.
02:29They never doubt them again.
02:30But Nick proved the doubters wrong and brought the Vince Lombardi trophy back to Philadelphia.
02:37And convincingly, we also have to recognize the Eagles' head of security.
02:43You know, this is a guy – they say he loves Trump.
02:46This is a guy.
02:47And I had Saquon give him a big, beautiful hat last night because I've been hearing about this guy.
02:53He likes Trump.
02:55His name is Dominic DeSandro Big Dom.
02:59And he's sort of a legend.
03:03Come here, Tom.
03:04Come here.
03:05Say a few words, Tom.
03:07I hear this guy's just – come here.
03:09I'd just like to say thank you.
03:11We're honored to be here.
03:12Thank you, President Trump.
03:14And that's it.
03:15Go birds.
03:15Thank you, guys.
03:16My pleasure.
03:17Thank you, Zach.
03:19He's a big part of the team.
03:23That's what I hear.
03:24But I want to thank also some incredible talent and representatives for our country.
03:30Pam Bondi is here.
03:31She's doing such a great – good job on television this morning, too, Pam.
03:35She's incredible.
03:37Lori Chavez-Durima, Secretary of Labor.
03:42Scott Turner, HUD.
03:44Hello, Scott.
03:46You're doing good.
03:47I want to thank you all for being here.
03:50Senator Dave McCormick.
03:52David, thank you.
03:53Come on up here, David.
03:54Come on.
03:56Representatives Rob Resnahan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan McKenzie, Dan Muser, Burgess Owens, Lloyd
04:07Smucker, G.T. Thompson, and Jeff Van Drew.
04:11And we have a lot of other congressmen here, but I have no idea who they are, because I can't
04:16see you and all these people.
04:18But I apologize.
04:20See, they'll never speak to me again.
04:22They'll be angry.
04:23But I just don't know who you might be right now.
04:26As well as Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
04:30Thank you, Dave.
04:31Good job, Dave.
04:33And Treasurer, Stacey Garrity.
04:36Thank you very much.
04:37Thank you, Stacey.
04:39We have a lot of great politicians out there.
04:43For Eagles fans, the road to this day has been long, but the journey has been well worth
04:48it.
04:48I would say, Jeffrey, that was a great journey for you, huh?
04:52It was great for you and for everybody else.
04:54And it's, uh, look at the size of this guy.
04:57This guy.
04:59You know, when we walked up, I said, you know, you just stay here a little bit.
05:02I'll walk up in front of you, because I didn't want to get anywhere near the size of you.
05:07And the greatness as a player, too, that I can tell you.
05:11Two years ago, the Eagles came incredibly close to football immortality in Super Bowl 57.
05:17You remember that game, but after a hard-fought game, you suffered a really heartbreaking loss
05:23to the Kansas City Chiefs by just three points.
05:26It looked like you had the game.
05:28This past year, the Eagles were determined to get it back, and get it back they did.
05:33The season started off slow, but you soon caught fire with your great coach inspiring
05:38you, and you got the ball to your superstar running back, who I met yesterday.
05:43And I want to tell you, he is, he's a handsome guy, but I wouldn't want to tackle him.
05:50Saquon Barkley.
05:51Where's Saquon?
06:01He's good.
06:02I got to know him a little bit.
06:03I offered him a ride on Air Force One, because I was coming down.
06:07And usually they say, no, no, I don't think so.
06:11He said, I'll take it, sir.
06:13And he loved it, and we loved being together.
06:17He's a great young guy and an incredible football player.
06:21Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in
06:25the NFL, featuring...
06:29That's true, huh?
06:30That's pretty...
06:31That's what this...
06:32That's a big group.
06:34We're going to introduce him.
06:35Jordan Melahata.
06:36Jordan Melahata.
06:37He's a big people.
06:51Landon Dickerson.
06:52Landon Dickerson.
07:00Six-time Pro Bowler right tackle, Lane Johnson.
07:04That's Lane.
07:05Six-time?
07:06Wow.
07:08That's pretty good.
07:09How is he...
07:10Is he better than you guys?
07:11I don't know.
07:12Oh, yeah.
07:14Six-time Pro Bowler.
07:15That's pretty good.
07:17In Week 9 against Jacksonville, Saquon performed football magic while racking up a total 119 yards,
07:2499 yards, almost 200 yards, two touchdowns.
07:28In the second quarter, he caught the ball, dodged two tacklers, and then hurtled backward over
07:33another diving defender, sending him flying through Saquon's legs.
07:39You remember that one?
07:40And I said, oh, that's a dangerous play, but he doesn't care about danger on the football
07:45field.
07:46And by the way, I have to tell you something.
07:48I was with the Giants and the head coach and some people, and I said, do anything you have
07:54to, but don't lose Saquon.
07:57They lost Saquon.
07:58And that was not good.
08:01I called that one.
08:02That was an easy one to call because he played damn well for the Giants.
08:07I can tell you that.
08:08But he made the right decision because it is a team sport, and he has great people in this
08:14team.
08:15This unforgettable display of athleticism will soon be seen in highlight reels, and you've
08:21seen a lot of it.
08:22I've seen that game numerous times.
08:24They played over and over.
08:25It was an amazing game, the final game, and a little bit surprising that either team would
08:30have won by so much.
08:31But ultimately, Saquon rushed for more than 2,500 yards in the regular season and playoffs
08:38combined, an NFL record.
08:40Think of that, all those years.
08:42And he was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
08:46That's pretty good, Saquon.
08:49His golf isn't quite as good.
08:51So I want to congratulate him.
08:59What a guy.
09:01Complimenting Saquon's historic season was an incredible year from star quarterback Jalen
09:07Hurts.
09:08And he really played a great season and a great game.
09:12Finished with 32 touchdowns in the year, turning in one stellar performance after another.
09:17He's a terrific guy and a terrific player.
09:21On defense, the Eagles finished the regular season with the fewest yards allowed per game,
09:25thanks in large part to talented young stars like safety Reed Blankenship.
09:31Where's Reed?
09:32Come on up there.
09:34How are you?
09:36Nice to meet you.
09:37Can I say something?
09:39Come on, say something.
09:41Look at this guy.
09:41I don't have a lot to say, but go Birds, even in D.C.
09:45So, thank you.
09:46Thank you so much.
09:48Congratulations.
09:51And on defense, the Eagles finished is really legendary because I think probably it's been
09:59one of the greatest finishes in football history in week 11 against Washington.
10:05Reed had 10 tackles overall and an interception in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
10:11That was a big one.
10:12That was a rough game for the opposing team.
10:16That's one of those that you don't sleep very well, but you guys came back and you did
10:20an incredible job just to get through.
10:23The Eagles ended the regular season at 14 and three with only three playoff games standing
10:29in the way of the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
10:31After beating the Green Bay Packers in the first game, the Eagles won a close one against
10:36the Los Angeles Rams.
10:38All good games.
10:39Then in the NFC Championship game against Washington, Saquon took his very first handoff for a 60-yard
10:47touchdown and then added another touchdown minutes later.
10:52And, you know, Saquon's a good golfer, but he's a much better football player in case you
10:56had any thoughts of doing something else, Saquon.
11:00Soon, thanks to 55 points in the day, the Eagles punched their ticket to a Super Bowl rematch
11:07with the Kansas City Chiefs.
11:08And you know what happened?
11:09It was an incredible game.
11:11A little surprising, but right from the beginning in the first quarter of the big game, which
11:16I was there.
11:17I watched in person.
11:18I was there along with Taylor Swift.
11:21How did that work out?
11:23How did that one work out?
11:25The Eagles scored a touchdown on their signature play, the tush push.
11:31You know what that is?
11:33Or is some...
11:34I hope they keep that play, Coach.
11:36I don't know.
11:37What?
11:37You know, they're...
11:38They're talking about getting rid of that play, I understand.
11:42They should keep it.
11:43What do you think, Saquon?
11:44I like it.
11:45Do you have guys like this pushing you around a little bit?
11:47I like it.
11:48It's sort of exciting and different.
11:50I would like to see something done.
11:52I'd like to go back to the regular kickoff, however.
11:55We don't like that kickoff where nobody's moving.
11:57The ball's in the air and nobody's moving.
11:59But I won't ask the coach or Lane or any of the people about that.
12:03But as a fan, I don't know.
12:05I'm not you, Jeffrey.
12:06Or some of the people, they call it the brotherly shove, you know, the other.
12:12Meanwhile, the ferocious Eagles defense pressured the Chiefs offense on almost every snap.
12:17Causing six snaps, sacks, and three turnovers, including a phenomenal interception return
12:23for the touchdown by a spectacular rookie, Cooper Dugine.
12:28Cooper made the play of his life, and he did it on his 22nd birthday.
12:45Wow, you're a young guy, huh?
12:47A short time later, a touchdown pass right before halftime, and another one in the third
12:53quarter helped put the game on ice.
12:55And at the final whistle, the green and white confetti rained down on the scoreboard.
13:01It was 40 to 22.
13:03And I think maybe the Eagles themselves were surprised, but boy, they played great.
13:09They looked unbeatable.
13:10It was a great moment for an incredible group of people.
13:14Throughout their extraordinary season, the amazing group of Warriors, and that's what they
13:19are.
13:19They're really modern-day Warriors, inspired the world with incredible spirit, athletic
13:25dominance, and exceptional teamwork.
13:27And you made the Eagles fans everywhere really very proud.
13:31Whether you're an Eagle fan or not, they were proud to watch a team of such great power
13:36and dominance.
13:37And you really have a whole life to lead, and you can say you've done it.
13:43You've done something that very few people are able to do.
13:46We've seen a lot of great teams, Lane and Coach.
13:49We've seen a lot of great teams, but they don't ever get to where you've already gotten.
13:53And you're a young guy to be a coach.
13:55Oh, I'd like to be his manager right now.
13:58I'd like to pick up my little 10% for doing nothing.
14:04So I want to congratulate once again.
14:06And let me just say, fly, Eagles, fly, right?
14:15And with that, I want to bring up one of the great offensive linemen, really, of all time.
14:20When you're a six-time All-Pro, that's really something.
14:24And Lane Johnson, come up and say a few words.
14:27Congratulations.
14:27You're really something special.
14:33Move this up a little bit.
14:34Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing us to be here, sending us the invitation.
14:39What an incredible year it was for us, really having the chance to play the team that we lost
14:44to a couple years before and come through.
14:47But I want to thank Mr. Lurie just for creating a championship organization and culture.
14:53Howie Rose has been putting the time in.
14:54Everybody on the coaching staff.
14:57Just what a wonderful season it was.
14:59And we're not done.
15:00We're ready for another round.
15:02So thank you all.
15:03And go, Birds.
15:04Yeah, thank you, Mr. President, for having us here.
15:15And we also appreciate the endorsement for the tush push.
15:18We really appreciate that.
15:20And go, Birds.
15:26Jeffrey, maybe you could say a few words.
15:28You've done an amazing job in putting this team together.
15:31Come on up.
15:32Thanks.
15:32Thanks.
15:34Thanks, Mr. President.
15:38You know, it's truly an honor to be here.
15:39I remember as a little boy the championship teams that came to the White House.
15:43And I never dreamed we'd be able to, you know, have a team and be as good as this.
15:48And this was a dominant team with incredible culture.
15:51Everything we all believe in as the best human values, selflessness, humility, teamwork, talent,
15:59discipline, everything that we all strive for, this team incorporated.
16:03So thank you for the hospitality today.
16:06And go, Birds.
16:11Oh, that's great.
16:19Wow.
16:19Whoa.
16:20That's pretty good.
16:23Show him the front.
16:26Show him the front.
16:27He's going to help.

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