Featured Image Credit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News, Sport, Super Bowl
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News, Sport, Super Bowl
Donald Trump made history at the weekend (9 February) by becoming the first sitting US president to attend the Super Bowl.
Surprisingly, however, the 78-year-old Republican didn't stay at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome for too long, and was seen by spectators getting off early.
But why?
Much has already been said about Trump's Super Bowl appearance.
The night in question - which saw the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 - saw the politician reacting awkwardly to the moment Taylor Swift was booed by NFL fans in a clip that later went viral.
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He left many viewers cringing himself after being seen saluting from the sidelines during the national anthem, despite the fact he's never actually served in the military.
As we say, however, Trump also surprised other spectators after leaving the high-profile game ahead of the fourth quarter, with many wondering what could have prompted the premature departure.
One theory suggested he'd picked the Chiefs to win - and was therefore disgruntled to see them losing - whilst others were simply preoccupied with the idea that Trump had wasted taxpayer dollars by only attending a small part of the game.
"Taxpayers paid over $20 million for Felon Donald Trump to attend half the Super Bowl," the latter wrote on X.
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"He reportedly left before Halftime. Where is DOGE at?"
According to the Mail, however, the father-of-five was always planning on retiring from the festivities when he did, with the official White House schedule reportedly dictating that he leave the stadium at around 8.05pm local time.
After that, he'd board Air Force One, as part of an intricate operation which allowed him to become the first sitting president to ever attend a Super Bowl game.
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The move would have naturally posed a huge security risk for Trump, who became victim to several assassination attempts last year during his presidential campaign.
According to the publication, the politician had the back-up from the US Secret Service on the night, as well as hundreds of local police officers.
The recent terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans - which saw 14 people killed, dozens injured and the perpetrator fatally shot by police - also meant that security would need to be amped up even more so for Trump's attendance.
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And so as to avoid Trump becoming surrounded by crowds - of 80,000 people - when the game comes to an end, it was supposedly always scheduled that he'd leave ahead of the final minutes.
Trump is said to have arrived back in Washington, D.C. at 11.51pm.
Tyla has contacted the White House for comment.