Sometimes, unexpected friendships can spark in the most surprising places — like a football locker room.
Ivanka Trump, daughter of former President Donald Trump, recently found herself in just that kind of moment during a visit to the Philadelphia Eagles’ training facility.
What started as a simple tour quickly turned into a charming exchange between Ivanka and one of the team’s rising stars, Eli Ricks.
How It All Began: A White House Visit That Left An Impression
The backstory to this little story goes back about a month, during the Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to the White House.
The team, including defensive back Eli Ricks, got the chance to tour the West Wing and snap photos with President Trump himself.
But it wasn’t the President who caught Ricks’ attention most — it was Ivanka, who works closely with her father as a White House advisor.
The 23-year-old Ricks couldn’t help but share his admiration publicly, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Donald Trump daughter is beautiful damn.”
It was clear his compliment was for Ivanka, not her sister Tiffany. That social media message set the stage for a playful back-and-forth that was just getting started.
A Note Left Behind: Ivanka’s Thoughtful Reply
Fast forward to a few weeks later when Ivanka toured the Eagles’ facility again — this time brought along by her son Theodore’s flag football team.
She made a special stop by Eli Ricks’ locker, leaving a friendly note to say hello.
The note read: “Stopped by to say hi! Sorry to miss you! Go Birds!” — a sweet gesture that showed Ivanka noticed the shout-out.
She even posted a photo on social media showing Ricks’ locker with his gear inside, clearly responding to his earlier message.
The locker photo was Ivanka’s way of giving a friendly nod back to the young defender.
A Witty Response: Eli Ricks Owes Ivanka a Wine Date
Not one to miss a beat, Ricks quickly fired back on social media, adding a bit of humor to the exchange.
He wrote, “My apologies, I owe you a glass of wine now!” followed by a face-palm and wine glass emoji — a playful promise to return the kindness.
Family Ties: Ivanka’s Role and Her Kids
For a bit of background, Ivanka Trump has been married to Jared Kushner, who is also a White House advisor, since 2009.
The couple has three children: Arabella, 13, Joseph, 11, and Theodore, 9.
It was Theodore’s flag football team that gave Ivanka the perfect excuse to visit the Eagles’ training ground and meet up with Eli Ricks in such a fun, unexpected way.