As you may have seen, when Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce was asked about his reaction to Trump attending the Super Bowl, he said, “That’s awesome. It’s a great honor, I think you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there—it’s the best country in the world—and that’s pretty cool.”
People are acting like this is a neutral answer and it’s driving me crazy. I already disagree with the position of feeling you can’t alienate Trump supporters because I think we all actively should speaking out against the dangers of Donald Trump whenever the opportunity presents itself, especially for those who have a big platform. Who cares if you’re losing fans, if you’re doing the right thing?
But let’s just assume that we are in that mindset of wanting to stay “neutral” and not alienate people or not get in trouble with the NFL or whatever, whatever, then, even in that scenario, I still believe the answer should’ve been more neutral. It wouldn’t have been hard to say something like “I can’t let myself be distracted by any person in the audience as all my attention needs to be directly on the field, helping my team to win this game.”
There is NO reason to say it’s an “honor” to play for this president, because it certainly shouldn’t be!
I ran across a social media post where people were debating this and a shocking number were on Kelce’s side saying it was the respectable thing to say and that you should always respect the office. But YOU SHOULD NOT. You DON’T “always respect the office.” Full stop. Do those people think it would’ve been appropriate for German athletes in the ’30s to say “That’s awesome. It’s a great honor, I think you know, no matter who the chancellor is.”
Trump IS dangerous. The treatment of immigrants, the treatment of transgender people, the expansion of Guantanamo Bay, the recklessness of “DOGE.” We are in so much trouble and it’s maddening all the people who want to comply in advance or bow their heads to decorum and tradition despite the man they’re talking about throwing all decorum and tradition out the window.
Also, to the argument some have given that “Oh, I’m sure Travis Kelce has so much pressure. Imagine the pressure of all these questions. He did the best he could under these circumstances.” NO HE DID NOT. [And even IF somehow he felt his answer wasn’t reflective of how he really felt, he has not then said anything to correct the record.]
This man has been famous for a while. He has been to the Super Bowl before!!! This is not someone who has been catapulted to fame overnight with no media training. This is someone who should know exactly what they’re doing – which, to me, is what makes his answer all that more purposeful!
[And Jalen Hurts was able to successfully answer the questions neutrally with no issue.]
So, I’m not sure if people just love Trump and that’s why they’re caping for Travis, or if they’re blind to the fact that they’re normalizing someone who is not normal, or what their deal is. But I’m going crazy feeling like I’m seeing all these people in an alternate reality than me.
(And by the way, it probably goes without saying, but GO BIRDS! (Also, Go Kendrick!))