Three days after addressing his teammates, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart spoke to the media about his decision to introduce President Donald Trump at a meeting last week where teammate Abdul Carter also spoke and indicated he felt obligated to call Dart out.
“Some things are bigger than football and this is one of those things,” Carter said Friday. “Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He doesn’t just represent himself and what he does, he represents all of us, and that goes for everyone who wears a Giants uniform, but if he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility, based on what I believe and what I stand against, that it doesn’t just mean showing my teammate. That we need to spread hate.”
Carter spoke after head coach John Harbaugh and Dart addressed the media at kickoff.
The quarterback opened with a statement explaining his support for the president’s office and that he was grateful for the opportunity to participate in the event.
“This was a unique opportunity that was requested and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States,” Dart said. “My thinking was pretty simple in the fact that I’ve always loved this country. I have in-laws who have fought in wars.
“So, the office of president has always been a position that I’ve respected, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party, and you know, my intentions were exactly that. I also understand that in this world, politics can be a touchy subject — a touchy subject. I also understand that I’m the quarterback of the New York Giants, and that comes with a lot of responsibility, under a lot of responsibility, under a lot of scrutiny. There’s a lot that comes with that, and it’s been something that I’ve loved being here. I love the city [state] from New Jersey, the people I’ve met here — it’s just been an amazing experience and there’s no other place I’d rather be. Most importantly, the people in this organization, my teammates, the staff, the coaches, everyone involved.
“We’ve had a lot of honest conversations with each other as a team, and I like to keep those things private between me and my teammates. And just everything that’s been said. But you know, I love these guys, and going forward, I can’t wait for what more we have to further the culture of this team, our brotherhood, and, obviously, we understand the biggest team goal that we can be in, to be the best, to achieve the best. Pursuing championship To be the best players for the Harbs and all the coaches here, and that’s our focus going forward every day.
Dart introduced Trump at a rally on Friday, May 22 at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. Carter expressed his displeasure with Dart’s involvement in a social media post on Saturday.
“Thought it was AI, what we do man,” Carter wrote in a post on X that has since been deleted.
Not long after, Carter followed up with a post that the two were “nice” and had spoken “as early as humans.”
NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that Dart addressed teammates Tuesday about his promotion of Trump, with veteran players Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jameis Winston also speaking. Since the meeting, the team’s focus has been on putting the matter behind them and moving forward while emphasizing keeping matters in-house, according to The Insiders.
“The players figured out how they wanted to approach these kinds of things that are part of the conversation in our community, and they did a great job,” Harbaugh said Friday. “I was proud of them. I was impressed with them. Couldn’t have asked for anything better and that’s why we’re in a good place right now and we’re going forward.”
Harbaugh, his brother Jim, head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and various family members visited President Trump at the White House in July 2025. President Trump also supported the Giants hiring John as their head coach in a January post on his Trump Social forum.
After the statement’s conclusion on Friday, Dart was asked if he understood why his presentation of the president has led to controversy.
“I respect the question,” Dart, 23, said. “I understand the question. My statement is all I have for you right now, and that’s just where I am.”
Carter and Dart were taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, with Carter selected No. 3 overall by Penn State and Dart selected 25th by Ole Miss after New York traded back into the opening round to draft him.
Despite all the differences, Carter thinks well of his classmate.
“I know Jaxson is a good guy,” Carter, 22, said. “Like I said, I was chosen with this guy. I’ve known him for almost two years now, so I know what he stands for. And I know our goals are aligned as a team. And just because we disagree on something, it doesn’t mean there’s anything more than that. It’s just a disagreement, and we can talk about it, as men, that we’ve done.”
Carter said Dart did not apologize, nor did the quarterback have any reason to.
“No, I don’t want him to say sorry,” Carter said. “Like, stand up for what you believe in, but it can’t be a problem when I stand up for what I believe. And that’s all that matters to me. As long as we have that understanding, everything’s good.”
Dart played in 14 games as a freshman with 12 starts, throwing for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns to five interceptions, with 487 more yards and nine touchdowns. Carter played in all 17 games in 2025 with six starts where he recorded 43 tackles, four sacks and 23 QB hits.
The Giants wrapped up their second series of organized team activities on Friday and plan to wrap up OTAs with sessions scheduled for Monday through Thursday.