NEW YORK — President Donald Trump praised New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart during a preview of an upcoming interview that aired Friday, May 24, 2026, following Dart’s introduction of Trump at a New York rally on May 22. Trump said, “Well, first of all, I wish I looked just like Jaxson. I said, ‘Is he a male model, or what?’ He’s a handsome guy, like a beautiful guy, a, you know, conservative guy. He said, ‘I love you, sir.’”

Trump also addressed criticism Dart received after the rally, saying, “So, when Jaxson gets harassed a little bit, he’s also loved more because we have more people than they do. And a lot of the people that you think, like people in Los Angeles — wealthy people — I see them all the time. They’re hitting me a little bit, and they meet me, and they say, ‘Sir, I voted for you.’” The president also observed that Dart has “legs like tree trunks.”

Abdul Carter, an NFL linebacker for the New York Giants and a fellow 2025 first-round draft pick, criticized Dart’s involvement with Trump. In a since-deleted post on X, Carter wrote that he “thought this sh*t was AI, what we doing man” after viewing clips of the rally. He later explained his reaction, saying, “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.”

Dart responded to the backlash by emphasizing respect for the presidency itself. “The presidential position has always been one I've respected regardless of political affiliation,” Dart said, citing family members who served in the military and federal government.

The full interview between Trump and Lara Trump is scheduled to air Saturday, May 30, 2026. A preview aired Friday on a Fox News program.