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By Mandy Taheri
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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a rally in Suffern, New York, on Friday. However, the high-profile appearance has raised eyebrows among some teammates and fans, sparking a larger discussion about Trump and politics in sports.
“What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here,” Dart told the crowd before introducing Trump. Dart also led the audience in chanting “Go Big Blue,” a traditional Giants chant. Trump praised the quarterback during his speech, calling Dart a “future Hall of Famer.”
Shortly after walking out, Trump said to the audience, “I’m looking at Jaxson, I’d like to know, is there any woman in the audience that thinks they can tackle that guy? Because I’d like to meet you; I’d like to shake your hand,” the president said. “Jaxson, do you think you could play against women OK? Do you think you’d have any problem? I don’t think so."
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The president then went on to compliment the quarterback’s physique, saying, “He’s this beautiful guy. He’s got legs like tree trunks. This is not a good thing for women. This would not be good.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Giants' press team for comment via email on Saturday.
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Social Media Fallout: Teammates and Pundits Weigh In
The quarterback's appearance quickly reverberated within his own locker room. Early Saturday, fellow New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter responded to a video clip of Dart at the rally, writing on X, “thought this s*** was AI, what we doing man.” Carter's post garnered nearly 22 million views by Saturday afternoon.
While many users agreed with Carter’s sentiment, others criticized the linebacker for publicly calling out a teammate over his political views. Sports radio host Jake Asman wrote on X, “Abdul Carter should have messaged Dart privately if he had an issue with Dart doing this. So dumb to publicly call out a teammate.”
Former NFL placekicker Lawrence Tynes also weighed in against Carter's public approach. “The locker room is a sacred place because it brings together everyone from all walks of life and beliefs for one common goal. Calling a teammate out publicly for his political views and to get attention is nasty work,” Tynes wrote.
However, others like Tara Setmayer, cofounder and CEO of the Seneca Project and a fan of the team, expressed her frustration with Dart on X: “As a lifelong, avid @Giants fan, I am beyond disappointed & flat out angry @JaxsonDart has chosen to align himself with an unhinged, racist, criminal, lunatic destroying our democracy. How is this going to go over with his teammates? This is a terrible look for the org.”
In another vein, sports reporter Jemele Hill noted the validity of media scrutiny surrounding the event, posting, "Nothing wrong with his support of Donald Trump, but it is completely appropriate and fair for journalists to ask him why."
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Broader NFL and Political Reactions
The incident has drawn commentary from some member the league as well as politicians. New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan chimed into the conversation, writing on X, “sounds bout ole miss,” in reference to Dart’s alma mater, the University of Mississippi.
On the political front, Representative Clay Fuller, a Georgia Republican, defended the quarterback while drawing comparisons to past sports controversies. "Jaxson Dart is an America first patriot and elite quarterback. Colin Kaepernick is a woke activist and mediocre quarterback. Notice the difference in how the media is treating them?" Fuller wrote on X.
Kaepernick is a former NFL player whose 2017 on-field kneeling protest against police brutality made him a central figure in the league’s debate over player protests. Trump has said those protests were dishonorable.
The regular football season does not kick off until September, but the Giants are scheduled for training and preseason games in August, where team chemistry will likely be under the microscope.
What Was the Rally For?
Trump was in Suffern to headline a campaign event for Representative Mike Lawler, a New York Republican facing a competitive GOP primary race next month.
The appearance was also designed to promote a federal tax law signed last year. A centerpiece of the legislation is the quadrupling of the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT)—raising the cap from $10,000 to $40,000—a policy change highly critical to taxpayers in high-tax states like New York.
Lawler represents New York's 17th Congressional District, a highly competitive battleground that includes all or parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties just north of New York City. Lawler is just one of three House Republicans who represent a district won by former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. With the midterms approaching, the joint appearance underscores a concerted Republican effort to tie localized races to national economic messaging ahead of New York's primary that is set for June 23.
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