Donald Trump Weighs In On Jaxson Dart's Rally Attendance and Fierce Backlash
President Donald Trumpis, once again, entering the chat as New York Giants starting quarterback Jaxson Dart continues to receive backlash for introducing the commander-in-chief at a recent political rally.
"Well, first of all, I wish I looked just like Jaxson," the president, 79, said in a Saturday, May 30, interview on Fox News Channel's My View With Lara Trump. "He's this guy. I said, is he a male model or what? He's a handsome guy, like a beautiful guy, and a conservative guy. He said, ‘I love you, sir.' And I didn't know he was doing it."
Dart, 23, introduced Donald Trump at a campaign-like rally for Republican congressman Mike Lawler on May 22 in Suffern, New York, sparking instant backlash online and even among his fellow NFL players.
"Big Blue nation, it's a pleasure to be here," the young quarterback told the crowd. "What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here, and without further ado, I'm grateful, I'm honored, I'm pleasured, to introduce the 45th and 47th president of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump."
Dart's fellow 2025 first round draft pick Abdul Carter reacted to his quarterback's political leaning the following day via X, writing, "Thought this s*** was AI, what we doing man?"
When speaking to Lara Trump on Saturday, the president seemed completely unbothered by the controversy surrounding the Giants star.
"He's potentially a great quarterback," the president said. "He's a young boy. He had just really started. But when he's in a game, he moves the team. And I didn't know him, but I watched him a little bit. And he really moves the team. He's got tremendous potential. He stays healthy He's going to be a great. So when Jaxon gets… harassed a little bit, he's also loved more, because we have more people than they do."
The president continued, "And a lot of the people that you think, like people in Los Angeles, wealthy people that, I see them all the time, they're hitting me a little bit, and they meet me and they say, sir, I voted for you. I said, I know, I can tell. Guys voted for me, I could tell you people on television that knocked me all the time voted for me."
On Friday, May 29, Dart addressed the backlash while defending his decision to introduce the president during the rally.
"Obviously, this was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the president of the United States," Dart told reporters. "My thinking was pretty simple, in the fact of, I've always loved this country. I have extended family members who have fought in wars. I have two uncles who have retired from the Air Force Academy and served themselves."
He continued, "And I even have a great-grandfather who served as the Secretary of the Treasury at some point. The president position has always been a position that I have a lot of respect in, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party. My intentions were just that."
Copyright 2026 Us Weekly. All rights reserved
This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 12:07 PM.