Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at Sunday night’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets, capping a whirlwind weekend of campaigning in Pennsylvania.
Trump attended as a guest of an unidentified suite holder at Acrisure Stadium, arriving about midway through the first quarter.
Trump was greeted by a small crowd of supporters sporting Pittsburgh jerseys and carrying a banner that read “Trump Nation.”
As the former president waved from the suite, fans below began chanting “USA.”
The evening took an unexpected turn in the third quarter when a female fan, decked out in black and gold—the Steelers’ colors—ran onto the field carrying a pro-Trump sign. She briefly halted the game before being escorted off the field by authorities.
The former president’s visit to the Steelers-Jets game marked the final stop on a busy campaign weekend in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state with the election just over two weeks away.
However, Trump’s presence created some conflicting loyalties for fans.
Trump, a New Yorker, is a close friend of Jets owner Woody Johnson, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom during Trump’s administration.
Meanwhile, the Steelers have been owned by the Rooney family for over 90 years, and the late Dan Rooney, the team’s former president and chairman, served as the U.S. ambassador to Ireland during Barack Obama’s presidency.
The Steelers organization distanced itself from Trump’s visit. Club spokesman Burt Lauten clarified that Trump was the guest of a suite holder and not affiliated with the team.
Despite the team’s neutral stance, Trump did receive support from a couple of former Steelers, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell, both of whom have endorsed Trump.
Brown and Bell, who had complicated exits from the Steelers, attended a Trump campaign event near the stadium earlier in the day.
They also greeted Trump when his plane landed at Pittsburgh International Airport, just as the game was beginning.
While Brown and Bell’s endorsements may have bolstered Trump’s ties with some fans, it was a curious alignment considering both players’ controversial histories with the Steelers.
Antonio Brown, once a star receiver, was traded from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas in 2019 following a string of public missteps, including skipping the team’s 2018 season finale.
Bell, on the other hand, sat out the entire 2018 season in a contract dispute before signing with the Jets in 2019, where he struggled to replicate his former success.
Brown’s departure from Pittsburgh was particularly tumultuous. After a stellar nine-season career with the Steelers, he forced a trade to the Oakland Raiders in 2019.
However, Oakland released him before he even played a single game due to ongoing issues, including a heated altercation with the team’s general manager.
Brown briefly signed with the New England Patriots but was released just weeks later amid allegations of sexual misconduct, including accusations of rape from a former trainer. The case was later settled out of court.
Despite his legal troubles, Brown resurfaced with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in 2021.
However, his off-field issues continued. He was suspended for three games for violating the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, and his stint with Tampa Bay ended in a dramatic fashion when he abruptly left the field during a game, removing his jersey and pads before exiting shirtless.
Brown’s erratic behavior has made him toxic to many NFL teams, though he has remained on the fringes of professional football.
In 2023, Brown briefly became the majority owner of a National Arena League team in Albany, New York, but the franchise was expelled after he failed to meet financial obligations.
When asked about his association with Brown, given the former player’s controversial past, Trump deflected.
“I don’t know anything about the allegations,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question.
When informed that Brown had faced sexual assault allegations, Trump reiterated, “I don’t know anything about it. I know he’s a hell of a football player.”
Trump’s decision to appear with Brown, despite his checkered history, raised eyebrows, particularly in Pittsburgh, where fans still hold mixed feelings about Brown’s departure.
Nevertheless, the former president’s attendance at the primetime NFL game ensured that his weekend in Pennsylvania ended on a high-profile note, adding yet another layer to his fast-paced campaign efforts in the battleground state.
