Don’t believe everything you hear, especially when it comes to Donald Trump’s claims about Saquon Barkley during the Philadelphia Eagles’ recent White House visit. Trump stated that he urged the New York Giants not to let their star running back go, suggesting he had some insider conversations about Barkley’s future. While it makes for an eye-catching soundbite, the reality is Barkley left the Giants for the Eagles during the 2024 offseason, which raises some eyebrows about those claimed discussions.
“I was with the Giants and the head coach [Brian Daboll] and some people and I said, ‘Do anything you have to, but don’t lose Saquon,’” Trump recounted, adding with a bit of self-satisfaction, “They lost Saquon. That was not good.” He called it an easy prediction, citing Barkley’s impressive performance with the Giants.
However, Giants spokesperson Pat Hanlon quickly shut down those remarks, telling Front Office Sports that “there were no conversations” between Trump and the Giants regarding Barkley’s status. When pressed for specifics or to confirm any discussions, Hanlon was straightforward, responding with a simple “No.”
On April 28, 2025, Hanlon even took to X, formerly Twitter, to address Trump directly. “With all due respect, stop yapping,” he tweeted. The tongue-in-cheek jab continued, “Be the leader we all want you to be. And my 401K wants you to be. I’m trying to retire!!”
Amid all this, Barkley had been spotted with Trump leading up to the Eagles’ White House visit, enjoying casual activities like golfing. Barkley addressed the social media backlash in his own way, tweeting, “Lol some people are really upset ’cause I played golf and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT.” He explained his perspective on respect, emphasizing his engagements with former presidents, stating, “Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have [an] amazing day [crying laughing emoji].”
Despite the political chatter, it looks like the Eagles enjoyed a triumphant visit to the White House, even in the absence of their star quarterback and Super Bowl 59 MVP, Jalen Hurts. This marks a notable moment for the Eagles, especially after their previous trip to the White House was derailed back in 2018 when a few players chose not to attend, leading Trump to cancel the event altogether.
This time around, the Eagles “enthusiastically accepted” the invitation, although not every player made the trip. Still, Barkley, now in Philadelphia after six years with the Giants, stood out as a focal point. In his first season with the Eagles, Barkley put together a remarkable 2,000-yard rushing season and racked up 13 touchdowns. His ability to contribute significantly continued with over 4,200 all-purpose yards and 15 total touchdowns during the regular season—a testament to his elite skill set and tenacity on the field.
In the end, while political narratives swirl, what really matters is Barkley’s continued excellence in his new home. With performances like these, he’s a player that has certainly caught the league’s attention in a big way.
