One week after introducing President Donald Trump at a New York rally, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart addressed his decision and conversations he had with teammates.
Dart’s introduction drew public attention, including from his fellow 2025 Giants first-round pick Abdul Carter. The defensive lineman initially tweeted “thought this s— was AI, what we doing man,” before later tweeting “Me and JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Y’all can keep y’all narratives.”
Carter has since deleted both tweets.
Dart said Friday that “the presidential position has always been one I’ve respected regardless of political affiliation,” noting his family members who fought in the military and served in the federal government.
“I also understand in this world, politics can be a sensitive matter, a sensitive topic,” Dart said in a statement spanning more than 4 minutes. “I also understand that I am the quarterback of the New York Giants, and that involves a lot of responsibility, and it’s under a limelight, under a microscope. And there’s a lot that comes with that and it’s been something I’ve embraced.”
Dart said the Giants have “had a lot of honest conversations with each other as a team,” the details of which he would keep “private between me and my teammates.”
“I think the connections that we build are special because we’re able to have vulnerable conversations,” Dart said. “We’re able to learn from each other, to support each other, irrespective of the color of our skin and we have a real brotherhood …
“I can honestly say I love every single one of my brothers, my teammates on this team. Regardless of politics, regardless of religious beliefs, regardless of anything that may be different between us. I love them and they know exactly what type of person I am: that comes into the facility every day. I lay my body on the line for my guys each and every week. It’s from the connections we build, the love that we have for each other. I’ve been somebody who’s always respected the different perspectives people may have, the backgrounds they come from.
“We have such a cool opportunity to be in the locker room where it’s a melting pot of people from everywhere and we get to be together.”
The Giants selected Dart with the 25th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart earning the starting job more quickly than expected among a room with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. The Ole Miss product started 12 games and completed 63.7% of his pass attempts for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions as a rookie. He also rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Giants selected Carter third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started six games as a rookie, tallying 43 tackles, 23 quarterback hits, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The Giants are entering their first season under head coach John Harbaugh, whom Trump posted to social media endorsing before the hire.