New York Giants teammates Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter have ended their locker-room rift over last week’s Donald Trump controversy and were even seen hugging at the team practice facility on Friday.
‘I love you too,’ Carter could be heard telling Dart after their on-field embrace.
And it wasn’t just Carter. Dart also expressed his love for every Giants player after igniting a locker-room controversy by introducing the President at a Republican rally in Suffern, New York on May 22.
‘I can honestly say that 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,’ Dart said in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the Giants are currently going through organized team activities (OTAs).
Carter previously called Dart out on social media for introducing Trump at the rally in support of Mike Lawler’s congressional re-election campaign. But on Friday, the second-year edge rusher took a more diplomatic approach when discussing the issue with reporters.
Asked if Dart offered an apology, Carter insisted there is no need for him to do so.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart shakes hands with Trump at a rally in Suffern, New York
Abdul Carter was picked third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but struggled some as a rookie
‘I don’t want him to say he’s sorry,’ Carter said. ‘Stand on what you believe in, but it can’t be a problem if I stand on what I believe in. As long as we have that understanding, it’s all good.’
For his part, Dart did not offer any apology with reporters, but instead tabled his decision to introduce Trump as a matter of patriotism.
‘Obviously, this was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States,’ Dart said. ‘My thinking was pretty simple.
‘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 I even have a great grandfather who served as Secretary of Treasury at some point.’
It’s unclear which former Treasury Secretary is related to Dart, but Richard Nixon-appointee David M. Kennedy did hail from the quarterback’s home state of Utah.
Regardless, Dart’s point was that he felt compelled to attend the rally and introduce Trump out of a patriotic obligation.
‘So the president position has always been a position that I’ve well respected, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party and my intentions were just that,’ he continued.
Dart led the audience on a chant of ‘Go Big Blue!’ before introducing Donald Trump on Friday
But that doesn’t mean Dart will be attending MAGA rallies throughout the mid-term elections.
Although he stopped short of swearing off future speaking gigs, Dart acknowledged that any foray into partisan politics is a risk for someone in his position.
‘I also understand that in this world, politics can be a sensitive matter, a sensitive topic,’ he said. ‘I also understand that I am the quarterback of the New York Giants, and that involves a lot of responsibility. It’s under a limelight, under a microscope, and there’s a lot that comes with that. And it’s been something that I’ve embraced. I’ve loved being here. I’ve loved the city of New York. I love the city (sic) of New Jersey.’
Public reaction to Dart’s attendance at last week’s rally has been mixed across New York and New Jersey, states which Trump has failed to win in any of his three Presidential campaigns.
It was Carter, a Philadelphia native, who offered the most visible critique of Dart, writing on X: ‘Thought this s*** was AI , what we doing man.’
Abdul Carter blasted his quarterback Dart for welcoming Donald Trump at an event in New York
The two would later meet privately to discuss the issue and make peace, but Carter still defended his actions on Friday by stressing his rejection of Trump while maintaining a respectful tone with regards to Dart.
‘Jaxson is one of our leaders,’ Carter said. ‘He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself and what he does, but he represents all of us and that goes for anybody 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 on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that — but to show the world.
‘That doesn’t mean that we have to spread hate,’ Carter said. ‘It doesn’t mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day, every team meeting. We’re close. We talk. As long as we make sure we’ve got the same goal as a team and our goals align, which they do, then I feel like that’s all that matters.’