Former NFL player and Fox analyst Emmanuel Acho has called Jaxson Dart ‘stupid’ for introducing Donald Trump at an event in New York last week.
The decision by the Giants quarterback infuriated his own teammate Abdul Carter and led many to question the harmony inside new head coach John Harbaugh’s locker room.
‘It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about what the hell is going on in New York,’ Acho, who played just 20 games in the NFL, said in a video posted on X.
‘Jaxson Dart, the quarterback, supporting President Donald Trump?!? He’s allowed to do that, he’s a citizen. If Jaxson Dart is allowed to support Donald Trump, then his teammate is allowed to have his grievances with him doing that.
‘Here is my issue. Jaxson Dart, you know how several of your brothers, your teammates, your friends, your ride or dies, how they might feel about this individual. I don’t think there is a lot of wisdom or disarmament in very publicly supporting an individual who many of your teammates felt offended by.
‘So Jaxson Dart, yes, you can do whatever the hell you want, but I don’t think it’s a wise decision without consulting some of your teammates.’
Emmanuel Acho has called Jaxson Dart ‘stupid’ for introducing Donald Trump at an event
Dart introduced the president for a stump speech at Rockland Community College on Friday
Abdul Carter blasted his quarterback Dart for welcoming Donald Trump at an event in New York
Acho later commented that it was ‘pretty stupid’ for Dart to agree to the role because of the ‘reaction’ it would cause.
His verdict also ignited criticism against him on social media. One fan replied to his video saying: ‘You said NOTHING when LeBron or whoever else publicly endorsed Kamala Harris. Are we not free to choose our candidate without fear of reprisal?’
Another wrote: ‘Just because you follow a party blindly that doesn’t doesn’t mean others can’t have their eyes open think critically, and make good choices.’
And another different repsone read: ‘Bet if he introduced Harris you would be saying that his teammates should support him regardless of who he supports as president.’
Dart, who had an impressive rookie season with the Giants, was given the role of introducing the president for a stump speech at Rockland Community College on Friday.
‘I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump,’ the 23-year-old former first-round pick said to the excited crowd.
The President then walked onstage to the tune of Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ before hugging Dart, whom he later called a ‘future Hall of Famer’.
But Carter, who is also about to enter his second year in the NFL, was not pleased to see his teammate backing Trump so publicly. Taking to X on Saturday morning, the linebacker posted: ‘Thought this s*** was AI, what we doing man’.
Carter later revealed he spoke to Dart privately after calling him out for cozying up to Trump
Dart led the audience on a chant of ‘Go Big Blue!’ before introducing Trump on Friday
The feud set social media alight with a number of ex-NFL players and fans debating whether or not players should criticize each other’s political views.
Carter later put to bed any rumors of a rift in the camp ahead of what will be a huge summer of preparation for the Giants under new head coach Harbaugh.
He posted on X on Saturday night: ‘Me & JD6 (Dart) are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.’
It comes after another Giants player, Jermaine Eluemunor, commented on Saturday in reply to a Patriots reporter posting about the story: ‘Locker Room is fine. Focus on New England’.
Former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes also replied with a defense of Dart in response to Carter’s first critical post.
He wrote: ‘The locker room is a sacred place because it brings together everyone from all walks of life and beliefs for one common goal. Calling a teammate out publicly for his political views and to get attention is nasty work.’
During his speech, Trump said a few nice words about Dart’s physical appearance: ‘I’m looking at Jaxson… I’m looking at the legs there. He’s this beautiful guy. He’s got legs like tree trunks. This is not a good thing for women.’
Dart hasn’t been very outspoken politically since being drafted by the Giants in 2025, although he did share some kind words about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his murder last September.
Dart then shared a post from Team Trump titled ‘Pray for Charlie Kirk’ and commented alongside it: ‘May God watch over him and his family!’
