When Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley came to town last year, he was an immediate fan favorite. Add his record setting-season and a Super Bowl victory, the Lehigh Valley native and Penn State alum could do no wrong.
 
That is until earlier this week when the Eagles visited the White House to be honored by President Donald Trump. There was already disappointment by a lot of fans after owner Jeffrey Lurie accepted the invitation last month.

 

On Sunday, fuel was added to the fire after photos and footage of Barkley and Trump surfaced on social media. Barkley was a guest at the president’s New Jersey golf course.

 

Disappointment, shock and anger were expressed — mostly by Black fans — while those on the conservative side saw the running back’s actions as simply respecting the office. Barkley even doubled down on his X account after fans made numerous comments.

“lol, some people are really upset cause I played golf and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,” he said. “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 mentions.”

Barkley’s comments can be deemed as contradictory from what he has said in the past.

“On the surface, Saquon’s response feels tone-deaf, but it’s much worse. It’s insulting and frankly, hypocritical,” says Natalie Esquire of NBC Sports.

Back in 2020, Barkley spoke out in a post on X against racism and injustice and called for unity. “And that’s why claiming respect for the office in this situation falls flat. It just doesn’t pass the smell test.”

As the discontent festered among fans, opinions varied.

“‘I respect the office’ is a cop-out. You can’t respect the office more than Trump does,” says a Philadelphia man who refused to be named for fear of retribution by his employer.

“And Barkley’s face next to his is a prop for Trump and his supporters to say that he doesn’t have contempt for us — as he erases history from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.”

“Saquon Barkley has every right to choose who he associates with,” said Carita Parks, CEO of Double Take Sports and ParksPR. “That said, when you openly golf with a political figure, it will inevitably be viewed through a political lens. Politics have long been a sensitive space for athletes and public figures, often leading to backlash when affiliations or associations come to light.”

 

There has always been a fine between sports and politics and Black athletes tend to be caught in the middle. Either to fight or flight or just remain neutral. However, in the ways Trump has imposed tariffs and cut government jobs.

Parks explains the danger of Barkley’s comments.

“In today’s climate, where many Americans are grappling with rising costs, job insecurity, and overall uncertainty, his lighthearted response to criticism may come across as tone-deaf to people navigating these challenges,” she said.

Is it realistic to require such activism from Black athletes? Are they too far removed to care? NFL Insider Sheena Quick says that may be the case.

“I think that we have to stop expecting athletes to align with the best interests of Black people,” Quick adds. “Many align with what’s in the best interests of their pockets. They are in a different tax bracket and some are more motivated by that than the perils of their skin folk.”

During this offseason, Barkley was rewarded with a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million which makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. That averages out to over $20 million per season.

Meanwhile, Black fans praised Super Bowl LIX MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts for skipping the White House along with the majority of his teammates. In total, 54 members of the Eagles franchise were in attendance.

Some alluded to previous signs and were not surprised that Barkley would rub shoulders with Trump. “Barkley looks like that kind of guy who is indifferent about what Black people go through,” actor and comedian D.L. Hughley told TMZ.

“He wouldn’t think it’s a big deal to go to a function where a dude assaults our history daily…Trump destroyed this honor.”

Despite his stardom, some fans refuse to let Barkley off the hook.

“Saquon is free to move how he sees fit. However, his popularity is not an absolution from moral consequence with some of his fans,” said Curtis Jenkins of Philadelphia. “He does seem apologetic about it and most fans will have to decide if they can separate, Saquon the player, from Saquon the person.”

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/is-criticism-of-saquon-barkley-s-meeting-with-trump-warranted/article