Why Donald Trump Left So Early and ‘The Worst Part of the Super Bowl’

Donald Trump attended Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans, yet he departed before the fourth quarter. While his decision to leave sparked curiosity, he later shared what stood out as “the worst” aspect of the NFL championship.

The president’s departure may have left questions unanswered, but the game itself delivered a decisive outcome. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs, securing a 40-22 victory.

Fans at home had multiple viewing options, some at no cost, while those in attendance paid a premium. The most affordable seats—located in the upper levels of the Superdome—started at $2,920 on StubHub and $3,000 on Ticketmaster, with some priced as high as $5,000.

Ticket packages sold by the NFL began at $6,700, offering perks such as meet-and-greets, tailgate parties, and complimentary food and drinks. On average, a ticket cost $8,076 in the weeks leading up to the game, according to CBS Sports.

The most expensive seats, near the Chiefs’ sideline, ranged from $8,650 to $12,000, though prices had peaked at $22,663 just a week earlier.

While the Eagles’ victory and ticket prices captured attention, the halftime show became another major talking point. Kendrick Lamar’s performance drew widespread interest, especially amid speculation surrounding his feud with Drake.

Trump’s attendance also made history, as he became the first sitting president to be present at a Super Bowl. He was photographed standing for the national anthem alongside New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Despite his historic attendance, Trump’s early departure did not go unnoticed. The businessman and former 45th president left before the game concluded, sparking debate across social media.

One X user remarked, “Donald Trump just left the Super Bowl early after watching KC get walloped after saying he was rooting for them. So much winning.”

Another referenced Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce’s comments about playing before the president, “Imagine saying ‘it’s an honor’ for Trump to watch you play at the Super Bowl only for him to leave early cause y’all was getting beat so bad. LOOOOSSEEERRRRRR.”

Others shared similar sentiments, with one posting, “thinking about travis saying it’s an honor to have trump at the super bowl just for him to leave halfway through the game because they were playing so badly [sic].”

However, not everyone criticized his decision. One user argued, “President Trump gives reporters enough to write 100 stories a day—you don’t need to misrepresent what happened. He was always slated to leave early.”

Another noted the logistics of his exit, “Imagine the security nightmare for Secret Service if he stayed until the end and left at the same time as everyone else [sic].” A separate post called out Mail Online’s description of Trump’s departure as “mysterious,” dismissing the characterization as exaggerated.

While opinions varied on the president’s early exit, some criticized the cost to taxpayers for attending only part of the game. However, records show that his White House schedule had him departing at 8:05 p.m. Central Time, meaning his early departure was planned in advance.

The decision was part of a carefully coordinated operation that enabled him to become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. Ensuring the safety of a high-profile figure in a massive venue poses significant challenges, which is why presidents often avoid large-scale public events.

When they do attend, security measures from the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement can disrupt normal proceedings.

To minimize logistical hurdles, it is not uncommon for presidents to leave before an event concludes. Otherwise, stadium security would need to hold back an audience of nearly 80,000 until the president had safely exited.

While his early exit drew attention, it was a rule change on the field that he found most frustrating. After the game, Trump criticized the NFL’s new kickoff rules.Implemented this season to improve player safety, the updated rule prevents the kicking team from advancing down the field until the receiving team touches the ball.

Designed to reduce high-impact collisions, the change has faced criticism—including from Trump, who doubled down on his stance after the game.

“The worst part of the Super Bowl, by far, was watching the Kickoff where, as the ball is sailing through the air, the entire field is frozen, stiff. College Football does not do it, and won’t! Whose idea was it to ruin the Game?” he wrote in a Truth Social post.

In previous years, the collision often caused injuries on special teams. Now, kickoff units start five yards apart between the receiving team’s 35- and 30-yard lines and can’t move until the ball is caught.

Meanwhile, Trump’s post-game remarks shifted from football to one of his most vocal critics—Taylor Swift. “The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!” he said.

Swift, watching from a suite, was booed when shown on the Superdome screen. On the field, her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, had a tough night, catching four of six targets for 39 yards. Patrick Mahomes threw for more yards than Jalen Hurts but was sacked six times, with Kansas City struggling to score until the final quarter.

Philadelphia’s win marked its second Super Bowl title and stopped the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to secure a three-peat. Super Bowl LIX delivered more than just a decisive Eagles victory—it became a spectacle of historic moments, off-field drama, and heated debates.

From Trump’s unprecedented attendance and early departure to Taylor Swift’s mixed reception and Kelce’s struggles on the field, the night stirred conversation beyond the final score. Meanwhile, the president’s criticism of the NFL’s new kickoff rule added yet another layer to the post-game discourse.

While the Eagles celebrated their championship win, the Chiefs fell short of making history, and the reactions surrounding the event ensured that its impact would linger well beyond the game itself.