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Legendary NFL supplier Leigh Steinberg, who has represented a grounds 8 first-overall draught picks and is nan taxable of nan deed sports movie "Jerry Maguire," has revealed his judgement connected Jaxson Dart's determination to present President Donald Trump astatine a caller rally.
Steinberg besides revealed he erstwhile helped pinch a conjugation called "Athletes for Obama," but it was canceled earlier it was moreover announced, and why.
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New York Giants backmost Jaxson Dart greets President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers arena successful Suffern, N.Y., connected May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
In an exclusive question and reply pinch Fox News Digital, Steinberg agreed that nan caller backlash against Dart by nan mainstream media is "overblown."
"I do, because again, there's a agelong history of athletes backing Democratic candidates," Steinberg said erstwhile asked if he believed nan backlash was "overblown."
"Athletes for illustration LeBron James and Stephen Curry person openly backed Democratic candidates, pinch small comparative comparable backlash."
Dart's beingness astatine nan Trump rally was constricted to nan backmost starring a elemental "Go Big Blue!" chant and past introducing Trump pinch nan phrase, "I'm grateful, I'm honored, I'm pleasured to present nan 45th and 47th President of nan United States of America, President Donald J. Trump!"
Dart did not make immoderate governmental connection astatine nan rally. Steinberg believes that making a governmental connection is simply a statement that Dart was smart not to cross.
"If he had gotten up and done a partisan speech, that would person been a measurement excessively far... we for illustration athletes to beryllium accessible to group of each governmental persuasions," Steineberg said.
NFL backmost Jaxson Dart hugs President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers arena successful Suffern, N.Y., connected May 22, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/AP)
"Traditionally nan President of nan United States has various roles. On nan 1 manus he is partisan and connected nan different hand, he is apolitical, he is the typical of our country. If nan president is not partisan successful nan arena past it is peculiarly due to present him."
Steinberg was only concerned for Dart astatine a infinitesimal during nan arena erstwhile Trump was speaking, and invoked Dart successful a spot that appeared related to nan rumor of trans athletes successful women's sports.
Trump asked Dart really he would fare competing against women, earlier saying "this is not a bully point for women," during nan speech.
"The President evidently talked astir transgender issues, and that's different particularly polarizing issue," Steinberg said. "I would not want Jaxson Dart to beryllium successful nan mediate of a contention astir transgender athletes."
Ultimately, from a business perspective, Steinberg believes that Dart's preamble of nan president tin beryllium advantageous to nan quarterback's marque and trading potential.
"He's making friendships, making contacts gathering business group doing a assortment of things," Steinberg said.
GIANTS' JAXSON DART BALKS AT BUYING PREFERRED JERSEY NUMBER FROM TEAMMATE, SUGGESTS PRICE TAG WAS 'TOO MUCH'
President Donald Trump shakes hands pinch New York Giants backmost Jaxson Dart arsenic he arrives to speak astatine Rockland Community College successful Suffern, N.Y., connected May 22, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
"There's endorsements that tin travel because of elevated profile. There are plentifulness of group who backed nan president who owned businesses that could he could person equity successful aliases ain aliases do endorsements with.
"And nationalist speaking is ever nan accomplishment and being capable to link pinch nan crowd, and truthful location are a batch of ways successful which you could thief him."
'Athletes for Obama'
Steinberg said that backmost successful 2008, arsenic an NFL ace agent, he was helping to shape an liking group called "Athletes for Obama."
However, aft Obama's Republican opponent, nan precocious John McCain, began utilizing run strategies to represent Obama arsenic a "celebrity" candidate, nan liking group was canceled, per Steinberg.
"They ne'er announced nan statement because it came astatine a clip wherever McCain kept making nan constituent that he was a 'celebrity,'" Steinberg said. "They ne'er announced it because McCain made a large governmental rumor retired of nan truth that this was a 'celebrity' candidate, that he wasn't superior astir stuff."
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However, Steinberg said that each of nan athletes that primitively committed to "Athletes for Obama" ended up endorsing Obama individually anyway.
"There were a full batch of athletes who endorsed Obama erstwhile he ran for president. Of people he was nan cleanable diversion candidate, because he was Black, he was young, he was diversion himself," Steinberg said.
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Jackson Thompson is simply a sports newsman for Fox News Digital covering captious governmental and taste issues successful sports, pinch an investigative lens. Jackson's reporting has been cited successful national authorities actions related to nan enforcement of Title IX, and successful bequest media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
