By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the NFL Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to the White House on Friday, joking about the upcoming presidential election and donning a Chiefs helmet.
“Winning back to back, I kind of like that,” Biden said, chuckling, as he spoke in front of the National Football League team on the White House’s South Lawn. Biden, a Democrat, faces a close rematch with Republican Donald Trump in November.
“After starting this season red hot you all had your share of struggles,” Biden said. “When the doubters question whether you can pull it off again… believe me I know what that feels like,” he said.
Biden congratulated the team for their resilience on the field, but also for team members’ reaction during a shooting at a celebratory rally after their win. “Amid the chaos, this team stepped up again,” he said.
He also joked with Travis Kelce, the team’s star tight end, who is dating singer Taylor Swift, calling him up to the podium briefly. Swift, on tour in Europe, did not appear.
“They told me if I came up here, I’d get tased,” Kelce said, “so I’m going to go back to my spot.”
Biden briefly donned a team helmet handed to him by Chiefs head coach Andy Reid before taking it off and mingling in the crowd.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, told reporters after the ceremony: “It was cool to see him put the helmet on. We didn’t expect that.”
He said the ceremony was a moment to remember the rest of his life, “and I’m glad to do it with a bunch of guys I call my brothers.”
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Heather Timmons and Bill Berkrot)
