NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Legendary NFL agent Leigh Steinberg, who has represented a record eight first overall draft picks and is the subject of the hit sports movie “Jerry Maguire,” has revealed his verdict on Jaxson Dart’s decision to introduce President Donald Trump at a recent rally.
Steinberg also revealed that he once helped with a coalition called “Athletes for Obama,” but it was canceled before it was even announced, and why.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart greets President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, NY on May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
In an exclusive interview with Pakinomist Digital, Steinberg agreed that the recent backlash against Dart from the mainstream media is “overblown.”
“I do because, again, there’s a long history of athletes supporting Democratic candidates,” Steinberg said when asked if he thought the backlash was “overblown.”
“Athletes like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have openly endorsed Democratic candidates, with few comparable setbacks.”
Dart’s presence at the Trump rally was limited to the quarterback leading a simple “Go Big Blue!” chant and then introduce Trump with the phrase, “I am grateful, I am honored, I am pleased to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump!”
Dart did not make any political statement at the meeting. Steinberg believes that making a political statement is a line that Dart was smart not to cross.
“If he had stood up and given a partisan speech, it would have been a step too far… we like athletes to be accessible to people of all political persuasions,” Steineberg said.
NFL quarterback Jaxson Dart hugs President Donald Trump during a Fighting For American Workers event in Suffern, NY, on May 22, 2026. (Ryan Murphy/AP)
“Traditionally, the president of the United States has different roles. On the one hand, he is partisan, and on the other hand, he is apolitical, he is the representative of our country. If the president is not partisan in the case, then it is especially appropriate to introduce him.”
Steinberg was only concerned about Dart for a moment during the event where Trump spoke, invoking Dart in a bit that seemed related to the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports.
Trump asked Dart how he would fare competing against women before saying “this is not a good thing for women,” during the speech.
“The president was obviously talking about transgender issues, and that’s another particularly polarizing issue,” Steinberg said. “I didn’t want Jaxson Dart to be in the middle of a controversy about transgender athletes.”
Ultimately, from a business perspective, Steinberg believes Dart’s introduction of the president could be beneficial to the quarterback’s brand and marketing potential.
“He makes friendships, makes contacts with business people who do a variety of things,” Steinberg said.
GIANTS’ JAXSON DART BALKER ON BUYING PREFERRED JERSEY NUMBER FROM TEAM, SUGGESTS PRICE SICKLE WAS “TOO MUCH”
President Donald Trump shakes hands with New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart as he arrives to speak at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY on May 22, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
“There are endorsements that can come because of high profile. There are lots of people who supported the president, who owned companies that he could have equity in or own or do endorsements with.
“And public speaking is always the skill and being able to connect with the crowd, and so there’s a lot of ways you can help him.”
‘Athletes for Obama’
Steinberg said that back in 2008, as an NFL super agent, he helped organize an interest group called “Athletes for Obama.”
But after Obama’s Republican opponent, the late John McCain, began using campaign tactics to portray Obama as a “celebrity” candidate, the interest group was canceled, according to Steinberg.
“They never announced the organization because it came at a time when McCain kept emphasizing that he was a ‘celebrity,'” Steinberg said. “They never announced it because McCain made a big political issue out of the fact that this was a ‘celebrity’ candidate, that he wasn’t serious about things.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
However, Steinberg said each of the athletes who originally committed to “Athletes for Obama” ended up endorsing Obama individually anyway.
“There were a whole lot of athletes who supported Obama when he ran for president. Of course he was the perfect athletic candidate because he was black, he was young, he was athletic himself,” Steinberg said.
