The countdown to Super Bowl LIX is on. A major political figure is expected to make an appearance.
Punchbowl News first reported that President Donald Trump will likely attend. The Associated Press confirmed the news, citing a White House official.
A source familiar with the matter also told Fox News Digital that Trump will be at the game.
If he attends, Trump would be the first sitting president to do so. The New York Post noted this historic detail.
News of Trump's trip to the Caesars Superdome stirred reactions. USA Today columnist Mike Freeman weighed in with a fiery op-ed. He called Trump "the most divisive president of our lifetime."
Freeman argued that the Super Bowl is a rare moment of unity. "We put aside politics. We put aside our differences. We take part in a great American tradition," he wrote.
Instead, he believes Trump's presence could ruin that moment. "Trump soils everything. Now, he's doing the same to the biggest game of the year," he continued.
Freeman also raised security concerns. "There's a reason sitting presidents don't normally go. It's potentially a security nightmare. But also, to me, they want the game to be the center of attention, not them," he wrote.
Trump rarely attended NFL games during his first term. However, he showed up for a Steelers-Jets matchup in October after a Pennsylvania rally.
College football has seen him more often. He attended the Alabama-Georgia game and the Army-Navy game following the 2024 election.
Before kickoff, Trump will sit down with Fox News’ Bret Baier. The interview, filmed at Mar-a-Lago, airs at 3 p.m. ET on Super Bowl Sunday.
The news of Trump’s appearance comes as the NFL makes a messaging shift. The "End Racism" end zone sign will now read "Choose Love" and "It Takes All of Us." This change is part of the league’s "Inspire Change" initiative.
Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET. FOX pregame coverage starts at 1 p.m. ET, with streaming available on Tubi.