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

The current U.S. president set a new precedent by being present at the Super Bowl. However, despite the thrill of the event, one particular aspect left him dissatisfied, and he later revealed what tainted his overall experience.

Donald Trump attended Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans but chose to leave before the fourth quarter commenced. His unexpected early exit piqued curiosity, and he later disclosed what he considered to be "the worst aspect of the Super Bowl." While his departure raised some questions, the game itself delivered a clear-cut result. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs with a commanding 40-22 victory.

Spectators watching from home had various ways to tune in, with some free options available, whereas those who experienced it in person had to pay a hefty price. The least expensive tickets, positioned in the upper sections of the Superdome, started at $2,920 on StubHub and $3,000 on Ticketmaster, with some reaching as high as $5,000. The NFL’s ticket packages began at $6,700, including exclusive benefits such as meet-and-greets, pre-game tailgate festivities, and complimentary food and beverages. Leading up to the game, the average ticket price stood at $8,076, according to CBS Sports.

Premium seating near the Chiefs' sideline ranged from $8,650 to $12,000, though just a week earlier, prices had peaked at an astonishing $22,663. Beyond the game itself and the staggering ticket costs, the halftime show sparked widespread discussion. Kendrick Lamar's performance drew significant attention, particularly as rumors swirled regarding his ongoing dispute with Drake.

Trump's presence at the event was groundbreaking, as he became the first active U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He was seen standing for the national anthem alongside New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and his daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Despite the historical nature of his appearance, Trump’s choice to leave early did not go unnoticed. The businessman and former 45th president departed before the conclusion of the game, igniting a debate across social media platforms.

One user on X commented, "Donald Trump just walked out of the Super Bowl early after watching Kansas City get crushed, despite previously declaring his support for them. So much for all that winning." Another referenced Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce’s pre-game remarks, "Imagine saying it's an 'honor' for Trump to be in attendance, only for him to leave prematurely because the team was losing so badly. LOOOOOSSEEERRRRRRR [sic]."

Others echoed similar sentiments, with one individual 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 all reactions were critical. One supporter defended the decision, stating, "President Trump already provides the media with enough material for hundreds of stories daily—there’s no need to distort the facts. He had always planned to leave early." Another user pointed out the logistical challenges of his security, writing, "Imagine the chaos for the Secret Service if he had waited until the final whistle and then left with the rest of the crowd." Additionally, a separate post dismissed Mail Online’s characterization of Trump’s departure as "mysterious," calling it an over-exaggeration.

While opinions were divided on his early exit, some voiced concerns about the taxpayer cost for attending only a portion of the game. However, records indicate that his White House schedule listed a departure time of 8:05 p.m. Central Time, confirming that his early leave was prearranged.

The decision was part of a carefully managed operation allowing him to be the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl. Ensuring the safety of such a high-profile individual in a massive venue presents immense challenges, which is why presidents typically avoid attending major public gatherings. When they do make an appearance, extensive security from the U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement can significantly disrupt the event’s proceedings.

To reduce logistical complications, it is not uncommon for presidents to leave before the conclusion of an event. Otherwise, stadium security would have to restrict the movement of nearly 80,000 fans until the president had safely exited.

Although Trump's early departure became a focal point, what frustrated him most about the experience was an on-field rule change. After the game, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the NFL’s newly implemented kickoff regulations.

The adjustment, introduced this season for player safety, prevents the kicking team from advancing until the receiving side touches the ball. While designed to minimize high-impact collisions, the modification has received pushback—including from Trump, who reiterated his disapproval after the match.

"The absolute worst part of the Super Bowl was, without a doubt, watching the kickoff where, as the ball soars through the air, the entire field remains frozen, unmoving. College Football doesn’t do it, and they never will! Who thought it was a good idea to ruin the game?" he wrote on Truth Social.

Previously, these collisions often resulted in injuries on special teams. Under the new rule, kickoff units line up five yards apart between the receiving team’s 35- and 30-yard lines and must remain stationary until the ball is caught.

According to the NFL’s operations website, the change was implemented “to address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptably high injury rate on kickoffs.” The Competition Committee is set to review the rule’s status in 2025.

Trump’s dissatisfaction with the kickoff format is not a recent development. During an appearance on the "Let’s Go!" podcast, he voiced similar complaints to hosts Jim Gray and Bill Belichick. "[...] I watch football now, and I see that kickoff, and it just looks odd to me. That thing looks strange, coach," he remarked to Belichick.

He continued, "I don’t know. I hope you like it, but I think it harms the game. When something works well, why change it? I don’t see how it’s safer. How is it safer? The players are still colliding." Trump added that if Belichick supported the adjustment, he would accept it. However, recalling his initial impression, he admitted that when he first observed the new format weeks earlier, he thought, "What on earth are they doing to football?"

Although the controversy surrounding the rule change persisted, the game itself also made history for other reasons.

Philadelphia’s victory marked their second Super Bowl title and prevented the Chiefs from achieving a historic three-peat. The championship event was not just about the Eagles’ dominant performance—it also became a stage for major historical moments, off-field drama, and heated discussions.

From Trump’s unprecedented attendance and early departure to Taylor Swift’s reception and Kelce’s on-field struggles, the night sparked widespread conversation beyond just the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Trump’s criticism of the NFL’s kickoff rule added yet another dimension to the post-game discourse.

As the Eagles celebrated their championship triumph and the Chiefs fell short of making history, the debates and reactions surrounding the event ensured that its impact would be felt well beyond the game itself.