'It's not an unusual practice': NRL's staunch defence of Donald Trump invitation ahead of Las Vegas showpiece
LAS VEGAS: The NRL has refused to back away from its controversial courtship of Donald Trump after inviting the US President to attend Sunday's (Australian time) Las Vegas showpiece to kick off the 2025 season.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Thursday (AEDT) defended the decision to chase the celebrity clout of Trump and Dana White, both controversial figures, who have been invited to Sunday's blockbuster event featuring four games at Allegiant Stadium.
Speaking to media at a fan event that was packed with hundreds of raucous NRL and Super League fans, Abdo claimed that it was "not an unusual practice" to invite the sitting president to an event being hosted by the United States.
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Abdo added that the last sitting president, Joe Biden, had been invited to last year's event and that the NRL was not getting political by attempting to woo the nation's leader.
Donald Trump, Dana White and Kid Rock during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Getty
"We are playing this match in America. We're being hosted by America," Abdo said.
"Last year we invited Joe Biden, this year we invited Donald Trump. We invited the sitting president of the country in which we visit.
"It's not an unusual practice to do this. It's not to say we have any political affiliation with any party.
"We're a sport. We're about bringing people together no matter what your political beliefs, no matter what your background.
"We're a sport for everyone, for all, and I think sending an invite to the sitting president of this country is appropriate and that's what we did."
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys had earlier attempted to catch Trump's attention with a personal message delivered on US show Fox and Friends, theatrically unveiling a 'TRUMP' ball to hammer home the invitation.
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ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys (left) and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo. Getty
"We've been talking to his office, we've been emailing backwards and forwards," V'landys told 9News before flying to Vegas this week.
"It was a long shot, [but] I know he likes physical contact sport — there's no more physical contact sport than rugby league.
"So if he wants to be entertained, he should come to the game."
It is still unclear whether or not Trump will attend, while his close friend, UFC supremo White, will not be in attendance due to an engagement that will take him away from his home city of Vegas at the weekend.
The decision to invite White, who was filmed slapping his wife at a New Year's Eve party in a nightclub, has put White Ribbon Australia offside, with the organisation describing it as "widely misaligned with our values".
