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While mostly referring to a prepared statement, Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart — the face of the franchise — explained Friday why he decided to introduce President Donald Trump at a rally a week earlier.
The introduction set of a controversy that included one of his teammates, edge rusher Abdul Carter, publicly criticizing him on Twitter the next day.
Less than 24 hours after Carter tweeted his objection to Dart’s actions, Carter followed up with a tweet noting that they had talked and smoothed things over.
On Friday, Dart stepped behind a podium after an organized team activities practice. He carried a single sheet of paper with about 25 lines of typed remarks on one side. At the top in bolded font were the words “Dart Statement.”
Dart didn’t entirely read from the statement, though he glanced at it a few times. He answered some follow-up questions. He declined to answer others.
Before Dart began his opening statement, he said he would not take follow-up questions. They were asked anyway.
Does Dart understand why introducing this particular president would be viewed negatively by some teammates — and also why such a move is controversial?
“I respect the question,” Dart said. “I understand the question. My statement is all that I have for you guys right now. That’s where I’m at.”
Does Dart believe he made a mistake by introducing Trump?
“I just gave my statement, so we can all respect and understand that’s where I’m at right now,” he said.
In the wake of Dart introducing Trump, the Giants leaked to the New York Post that they weren’t happy Dart failed to give the team a heads-up about what he’d be doing.
The Giants also did not like that Dart tried to start a Giants chant from the stage at that Trump rally, since the team prefers to remain apolitical.
(As you’d expect, coach John Harbaugh dodged questions Friday about all this, refusing to publicly criticize Dart.)
Dart opened his remarks Friday by explaining why he introduced Trump.
“This was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States,” he 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 retired from the Air Force Academy and served. I even have a great-grandfather who served as the Secretary of Treasury at some point. So the president position has always been a position that I’ve well respected, regardless of political affiliation. My intentions were just that.
“I also understand in this world, politics can be a sensitive matter. 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. It’s been something that I’ve embraced. I’ve loved being here. There’s not another place that I would rather be. Most importantly, the people in this organization — and my teammates — I’ve loved making relationships with them. That’s the kind of person I am. I’m a connector. I love hearing everybody’s stories and being somebody who people can rely on to be there for them.”
Carter on Friday stood by his public criticism of Dart, but said he respects and is close with the quarterback. The two players embraced before and after Carter spoke from the podium. (Dart spoke first.)
Carter’s first tweet Saturday about Dart introducing Trump read: “Thought this s--- was AI, what we doing man.”
He later followed up with this: “Me & JD6 are good! We spoke earlier as Men. Yall can keep yall narratives.”
The Giants on Tuesday held a team meeting at which Dart — and veteran players — spoke about this controversy.
Carter was not at the meeting because of family obligations connected with Eid al-Adha, an important Muslim holiday. But after Carter spoke Saturday with Dart, Carter discussed this situation with other teammates this week when he returned to East Rutherford.
Dart also said this during his opening statement Friday: “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. They know exactly what kind of person that I am.
“I lay my body on the line for my guys each and every week. I’ve been somebody who has always respected the different perspectives that people may have. We’re able to learn from each other, to support each other, irrespective of the color of our skin. We have a real brotherhood.
“We’ve had a lot of honest conversations with each other as a team [this week]. I would like to keep those things private between me and my teammates.”
Dart was asked three other follow-up questions Friday.
Was he surprised by the massive reaction (positive and negative) to his introduction of Trump?
“I think this is just kind of the situation that was at hand,” he said. “I don’t think that you ever really expect things to be exactly what they are.”
Did Dart feel the need to address his teammates this week? Or did Harbaugh encourage him to do it?
“I’m open with all my teammates,” he said. “Everybody saw it the same way. As teammates, we want to become closer, be the best. When you’re on the field and you’re playing in front of the world and you’re in vulnerable positions, you’ve got to be able to trust the man next to you. I think the most important thing that we have together is communication.”
Did Dart initiate that Saturday conversation with Carter?
“We just talked,” Dart said. “Me and him are [two] of the closer guys on the team with each other. We’ve had a lot of conversation, and he’s my brother. I know that I’m a brother to him. At the end of the day, we want to be the best people and players for each other.”
MORE GIANTS COVERAGE
- Here’s what John Harbaugh thinks about Giants’ Trump controversy
- Giants fear they lost another player to season-ending offseason injury
- Giants’ Abdul Carter sounds off on ‘face of our franchise’ Jaxson Dart aligning with Trump
- Mike Francesa has a warning for Giants’ Jaxson Dart: ‘You haven’t played enough games’
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