If you’re (waaaay) over the Jaxson Dart-Abdul Carter-President Trump contretemps – meeeeeee, too. But while we’ve now − hopefully − put this whole episode in the rear view, can we also take a moment to give Dart and Carter, both first-round draft picks of the New York Giants a year ago, a pat on the back? Please?
If you’re still catching up, Dart introduced the president at a campaign-style rally – an event for Republican Rep. Mike Lawler – on Friday, May 22. Carter expressed his disapproval on social media the next morning, then reversed his field later in the day after an apparently productive conversation with Dart.
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People politically opposed? Talking to each other respectfully? What a quaint notion – maybe Generation Z will save the world yet.
Over the intervening week, many opinions – some, naturally, better formed and more insightful than others – on the situation were expressed, vectored from any number of outlets. And while 45/47 expressed his admiration for the Giants quarterback, he and Carter (a gifted pass rusher picked 22 spots before Dart) laid low.
Until now.
To their everlasting credit, both players addressed the situation during the Giants’ organized team activities on Friday, May 29. They managed to adhere to their beliefs … without being divisive … or provocative … or certainly tearing the fabric of Big Blue’s locker room asunder.
“I know Jaxson is a good dude,” Carter said.
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“I was drafted with this guy. I’ve known him for almost two years now, so I know what he represents, and I know that our goals align as a team. Just because we have a disagreement on something doesn’t mean that there is something more than that. It’s just a disagreement and we can talk about it as men, which we did, and move forward from it.”
Said Dart: “Obviously, this was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States. My thinking was pretty simple in the fact of I’ve always loved this country. … The President position has always been a position that I’ve respected, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party. My intentions were just that.
“I also understand in this world, politics can be a sensitive matter, a sensitive topic. I also understand that I am the quarterback of the New York Giants, and that involves a lot of responsibility. I’m under a microscope, and there’s a lot that comes with it, and it’s something that I’ve embraced.”
Agreeing to disagree? With mutual respect and degrees of deference? If only I had pearls to clutch. It’s enough to take you back a few decades, when this country largely seemed more unified amid its various differences. And, sure, maybe it helps to have a clearly defined collective enemy. Like the Soviet Union. Or the Philadelphia Eagles.
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But in this day and age? With Trump in the middle of the firestorm? Scalding takes from the left and right were inevitable.
“(F)or somebody to back a guy like Trump, whose history of discrimination and racism goes back to housing discrimination in the ’70s, DEI attacks, and posting pictures of the Obamas as apes — when (Dart’s) on a team that’s 55% to 60% of the NFL, that much percentage of Black people – that is just the definition of stupidity and racist in my opinion,” Joy Behar, co-host of “The View” said this week.
A little much? (The part about Dart, I mean.)
I also get this is 2026 and not 1986 (when pop music was so much better, among other things – and can you believe “Top Gun” is 40?). Back then, racial, gender and political fault lines weren’t on front street – or social media – the way they constantly are now, for better … and worse. Controversial as he was at times, President Reagan certainly wasn’t the lightning rod decorum-ditching Trump is.
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Yet Dart and Carter know that. They know criticism – and support – is going to wash over them, perhaps a tidal wave of either, depending on the stance they take. Right, wrong or indifferent. Yet no matter what I, you or they believe, shouldn’t both get some credit for caring? And stepping up? Seems like it was just five minutes ago that twentysomethings got bashed for political antipathy.
I’m not going to weigh in on Trump, but I certainly didn’t have as educated a grasp of the issues du jour as a young guy as I should have when George Bush 41 or Bill Clinton or George Bush 43 were elected. Also? People evolve. They’re often naïve when they’re 23 (which is maybe especially exposed when they’re the face of a multi-billion dollar football team in the world’s biggest media market.) They have life experiences. They get older and see the world through the prism of their kids’ eyes. Whatever Dart and/or Carter believe in now could be significantly altered years after they’ve retired from the NFL. Or maybe even next month.
But at least they’re practicing civility and accountability at a time when this country undoubtedly is running a severe deficit in both departments.
“We’ve got a blond-haired, blue-eyed white kid (Dart) and a Black Muslim religion, Black kid (Carter), who are coming together and showing y’all – showing the world – that we can come together,” said Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
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“Everything doesn’t have to be viewed in this perfect little snow globe, and everything doesn’t have to be perfect. … But we have to support each other.”
Kinda sounds like how a workplace should function. Or a military unit. Maybe even a family. Certainly a football team – and first-year coach John Harbaugh confirmed there had been multiple conversations with Dart, Carter, veteran players and a team meeting over the controversy, for lack of a better word, over the past week.
And, just maybe, the Giants will emerge the better for it – especially since the storm was weathered in the spring.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants and Abdul Carter #51 of the New York Giants celebrate following a win against the Los Angeles Chargers after the game at MetLife Stadium on September 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
“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,” said Dart, who chose not to disclose the specifics of some of the discussions he’d had with Carter, Harbaugh and others in recent days.
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“I’ve been somebody who’s always respected the different perspectives that people may have, the backgrounds they come from. I understand that we have such a cool opportunity as people to be in the locker room where it’s a melting pot of people from everywhere, and we get to be together.
“I think that the connections that we build are special, because we’re able to have vulnerable conversations. We’re able to learn from each other, to support each other, irrespective of the color of our skin. We have a real brotherhood.
“Obviously, we understand the biggest goal is to be the best team that we can be, to put ourselves in a best position to succeed – to chase a championship, to be the best players for Coach Harbs and all the coaches here. That’s our focus going forward each and every day.”
Dart also characterized himself and Carter as two of the closer friends in the Giants locker room, which is perhaps why no public apology was issued nor seems forthcoming.
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Or even necessary.
“I don’t want him to say he’s sorry,” Carter said of Dart. “Stand on what you believe in. But it can’t be a problem when I stand on what I believe in. That’s all that matters to me. As long as we have that understanding, it’s all good.”
Amen.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants’ Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter should be applauded after Trump controversy
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