On Friday, President Biden urgently referred to as for an finish to the struggle in Gaza. He solemnly mentioned the rule of legislation after former President Donald J. Trump’s felony conviction. And he donned a shiny crimson helmet to the whoops and cheers of a pack of soccer gamers and followers.
The go to to the White Home by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to rejoice their second straight Tremendous Bowl win gave the president a number of moments of frivolity in per week replete with sobering occasions.
“Successful back-to-back — I type of like that,” Mr. Biden mentioned, hinting on the powerful re-election bid he faces in his rematch with Mr. Trump. He added, “When the doubters query in case you can pull it off once more, imagine me, I do know what that seems like.”
The South Garden celebration was a blip on the president’s schedule, squeezed between a gathering with the prime minister of Belgium and his weekend plans in Rehoboth Seashore, Del., throughout a month with an limitless string of marketing campaign occasions. But, with a few of the Nationwide Soccer League’s most well-known names, it carried a sure movie star wattage.
Nonetheless, the highlight was far dimmer than it may have been. Taylor Swift didn’t make the journey together with her boyfriend, the star tight finish Travis Kelce, as she was touring in Europe and had carried out in Madrid on Thursday evening.
The White Home had beforehand mentioned it was as much as the Chiefs whether or not to increase an invite to the star musician, who has largely prevented embroiling herself in politics. She endorsed Mr. Biden in 2020, resulting in hypothesis about whether or not she would accomplish that once more.
The ceremony on the South Garden got here after the Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl win in February, however simply over a month after Ms. Swift launched her newest album, which has at the least one monitor that nods to Mr. Kelce, who, as she sings, is aware of “ ball.”
“Travis, the place’s Taylor?” a journalist shouted close to the top of the ceremony, prompting a murmur of disapproval from the gang. Mr. Kelce, in a light-colored swimsuit and darkish shades, didn’t seem to react to the query.
Mr. Biden nudged Mr. Kelce to the rostrum through the ceremony, however mentioned that he was apprehensive: “I’d have Travis come up right here, however God solely is aware of what he’d say.”
Mr. Kelce, who sneaked as much as the microphone eventually yr’s ceremony however was redirected by quarterback Patrick Mahomes earlier than he may make any remarks, was much less daring on Friday.
“They instructed me if I come up right here, I’d get tased,” Mr. Kelce joked on the podium. He then rapidly rejoined his teammates.
Additionally in attendance was Harrison Butker, the Chiefs kicker who attracted controversy this month for a graduation tackle at a Catholic liberal arts faculty during which he steered that being a “homemaker” was a girl’s most necessary function. He additionally disparaged Delight Month, drawing rebukes from L.G.B.T.Q. teams. Mr. Butker stood silently within the again row alongside his teammates.
Coach Andy Reid and Clark Hunt, the group’s chief govt, rounded out the ceremony by giving Mr. Biden a Chiefs helmet to go along with the customized jersey he was offered with final yr. Mr. Reid scrambled to drag off Mr. Biden’s aviators because the president slipped it on to cheers of “Do it, do it!”
Mr. Biden praised the Chiefs for his or her response to a taking pictures in February at a celebration of their Tremendous Bowl win in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., that left one girl lifeless and dozens wounded, together with a number of youngsters.
“One teen remembers Coach Reid giving him a hug, saying, ‘Simply breathe, simply breathe,’” Mr. Biden mentioned. He added, “As a rustic, we’ve got to do extra to cease the tragic shootings earlier than they occur.”
Talking to reporters shortly after the ceremony on the South Garden, Mr. Mahomes mentioned it was particular to see the president don a Chiefs helmet. “We didn’t count on that,” he mentioned, including, “You don’t take these moments as a right.”
Broad receiver Xavier Worthy, who was drafted by the Chiefs final month, paused a White Home tour to step as much as the rostrum contained in the briefing room and tease a 3rd profitable season: “Three-peat, child.”
He and a number of other different gamers had already appeared to grasp one in every of Washington’s oldest trades: When requested whether or not they would become involved in Mr. Biden’s re-election bid, they didn’t reply.
