Secret Service clarifies that warning to Travis Kelce about ‘tasing’ him at the White House was just ‘friendly banter’

Travis Kelce revealed he was issued a stern warning by Secret Service agents during his second White House visit in as many years last week. However, the government agency clarified that the officers were just bantering with the Chiefs tight end when they threatened to ‘tase’ him if he approached the president’s podium.

‘Our agents and officers were happy to support Travis and the Chiefs’ official visit to the White House, even presenting him with a Secret Service pin,’ Secret Service spokesperson Nathan Herring told People on Wednesday. As for the taser comment, Travis and our personnel were having some friendly banter as we have passionate football fans throughout our organization.’

The statement came one day after the Kansas City star told his New Heights podcast co-host, brother Jason Kelce, that ‘four or five Secret Service members’ approached him during the May 31 trip to the nation’s capital. ‘They told me, “You know, if you go up to that podium, we’re authorized to tase you … It is actually an order for us to tase you,”‘ he recalled.

However, during the Chiefs’ visit, President Joe Biden invited Travis up to speak, referencing his antics from the year prior when he jokingly attempted to take over the presidential podium. ‘I’d have Travis come up here, but God only knows what he’d say,’ Biden quipped. ‘Travis, come here. It’s all yours, pal,’ he beckoned. Kelce began, ‘My fellow Americans, it’s nice to see you all again.’

He went on, ‘I’m not gonna lie President Biden, they told me if I came up here I’d get tased so I’m gonna go back to my spot.’ It’s long-standing tradition for championship sports teams, both professional and collegiate, to be invited to the White House. The Chiefs have won the Super Bowl three times in the past five years. In 2023, they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, first lady Jill Biden’s favorite football team. Kansas City also defeated San Francisco to claim the 2020 Super Bowl title.