Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley has found himself at the center of controversy following a high-profile weekend with former President Donald Trump and the resurfacing of old, offensive tweets by his fiancée, Anna Congdon. The firestorm comes during what should have been a celebratory moment: the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory visit to the White House.
Saquon Barkley’s golf day with Donald Trump triggers mixed reactions
Just days before the team’s scheduled visit to the White House, Barkley joined Trump for a round of golf at the former president’s Bedminster, N.J. club. Barkley even flew to Washington aboard Air Force One with Trump, with cameras capturing them stepping off Marine One together. Trump joked, “I wanted to race him, but I decided not to do it,” calling the Pro Bowl athlete “a nice guy.”
But the images sparked online outrage, especially given the political tension surrounding Trump. Critics accused Barkley of aligning himself with a divisive figure right before a non-partisan team event.
Barkley responded directly on social media, writing: “Get out of my mentions with all this politics. Some people are really upset ’cause I played golf and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT… Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand.” He also pointed out that he had previously golfed with Barack Obama, emphasizing his stance on respecting the presidency, not the politics.
Fiancée Anna Congdon’s old tweets resurface and stir more backlash
While Barkley was defending his Trump appearance, his fiancée, Anna Congdon, came under fire for a different reason. Social media users resurfaced tweets she made as a teenager in 2012 and 2013 that contained racial slurs and insensitive language, including casual use of the N-word. The tweets drew heavy criticism, especially since Congdon and Barkley have a biracial child.
Though the posts were over a decade old, many questioned whether they reflected deeper views. Neither Congdon nor Barkley has commented on the matter publicly, but the timing of the leak — just ahead of the Super Bowl — raised suspicion about the motives behind it.
The Eagles' visit to the White House was notable not just for Barkley's presence, but also for the absence of key players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. While the official explanation was “scheduling conflicts,” the silent boycott echoed past tensions with Trump-era politics.
Also Read: “Turning sports into reality TV”: Kelly Stafford urges balance between public curiosity and privacy in Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson’s relationship
Ultimately, Barkley’s actions and the resurfaced tweets have reignited debate over how athletes engage with politics and public figures — and whether personal gestures can ever truly be separated from public perception.
Saquon Barkley’s golf day with Donald Trump triggers mixed reactions
🚨PHOTOS: #Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley and President Donald Trump had photos taken of them together this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/dQPBQlppvP
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 28, 2025
Just days before the team’s scheduled visit to the White House, Barkley joined Trump for a round of golf at the former president’s Bedminster, N.J. club. Barkley even flew to Washington aboard Air Force One with Trump, with cameras capturing them stepping off Marine One together. Trump joked, “I wanted to race him, but I decided not to do it,” calling the Pro Bowl athlete “a nice guy.”
But the images sparked online outrage, especially given the political tension surrounding Trump. Critics accused Barkley of aligning himself with a divisive figure right before a non-partisan team event.
Barkley responded directly on social media, writing: “Get out of my mentions with all this politics. Some people are really upset ’cause I played golf and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT… Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand.” He also pointed out that he had previously golfed with Barack Obama, emphasizing his stance on respecting the presidency, not the politics.
lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT. Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my…
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) April 28, 2025
Fiancée Anna Congdon’s old tweets resurface and stir more backlash
While Barkley was defending his Trump appearance, his fiancée, Anna Congdon, came under fire for a different reason. Social media users resurfaced tweets she made as a teenager in 2012 and 2013 that contained racial slurs and insensitive language, including casual use of the N-word. The tweets drew heavy criticism, especially since Congdon and Barkley have a biracial child.
Though the posts were over a decade old, many questioned whether they reflected deeper views. Neither Congdon nor Barkley has commented on the matter publicly, but the timing of the leak — just ahead of the Super Bowl — raised suspicion about the motives behind it.
The Eagles' visit to the White House was notable not just for Barkley's presence, but also for the absence of key players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. While the official explanation was “scheduling conflicts,” the silent boycott echoed past tensions with Trump-era politics.
Also Read: “Turning sports into reality TV”: Kelly Stafford urges balance between public curiosity and privacy in Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson’s relationship
Ultimately, Barkley’s actions and the resurfaced tweets have reignited debate over how athletes engage with politics and public figures — and whether personal gestures can ever truly be separated from public perception.
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