US President Donald Trump has once again singled out New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart for praise, while reflecting on the young player’s public support for him earlier this year.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump discussed Dart’s knee injury and recalled the quarterback’s appearance at a campaign-style rally for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York in May.
Trump said Dart had faced criticism within NFL circles after publicly endorsing him at the event. The president also described the 23-year-old quarterback as “very handsome” while expressing hope that he recovers from his injury.
Dart’s Season Has Been Cut Short by Knee Injury
Dart’s latest appearance in Trump’s remarks comes after a serious knee injury ended his 2026 regular season.
The Giants quarterback was injured during the opening drive of a Week 2 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Further examinations revealed damage involving his meniscus, MCL and PCL, and the Giants subsequently confirmed that he would miss the remainder of the regular season.
Dart had made an impressive start to the campaign, including a strong performance in New York’s season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Trump Recalls Dart’s Political Endorsement
Trump used his White House remarks to revisit Dart’s appearance alongside him at the May rally in Suffern, New York.
The quarterback’s decision to participate in the political event attracted attention at the time, particularly because professional athletes generally face scrutiny when publicly aligning themselves with political figures.
Trump claimed Dart had received criticism from what he described as a “rather liberal group” within the NFL following his endorsement.
The president also linked the controversy to people associated with NFL halftime entertainment, saying he does not understand some of the performances featured during those shows.
Unverified Claim About Dart’s Jersey Sales
Trump went further by claiming that Dart’s jersey became the NFL’s best-selling jersey immediately after the quarterback appeared at the rally.
There is no evidence presented to substantiate that claim, and contemporary reporting has described it as an unverified assertion.
Trump nonetheless used the alleged sales surge as part of his praise for Dart, saying he was pleased by the quarterback’s support and wanted to see him recover from the injury.
Trump Has Previously Praised the Young Quarterback
Wednesday’s comments were not the first time Trump has publicly praised Dart.
The president has previously spoken favourably about the Giants quarterback, including comments about his appearance and physical attributes.
Dart’s profile has grown considerably since entering the NFL, with the quarterback becoming an important part of the Giants’ plans after being selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
His injury has now forced New York to turn to veteran Jameis Winston at quarterback for the remainder of the regular season.
Trump Again Targets NFL Halftime Entertainment
Trump’s remarks about Dart also returned to a subject he has repeatedly criticised: NFL halftime performances.
The president has previously objected to the choice of performers and the content of shows, including Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime performance.
Trump criticised the Puerto Rican artist‘s performance on social media, objecting to the use of Spanish and aspects of the choreography.
Bad Bunny’s show featured appearances involving several prominent entertainers, including Lady Gaga, Pedro Pascal, Ricky Martin, Jessica Alba, Karol G and Cardi B.
Dart’s NFL Return Now Becomes the Focus
While Trump’s comments again placed the quarterback’s political association in the spotlight, Dart’s immediate concern is his recovery from the knee injury.
The Giants have already moved forward with Winston as their starting quarterback, while Dart’s rehabilitation will determine when he can return to competitive action. The team has said his absence covers at least the remainder of the regular season.
