Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made a notable appearance at Sunday night’s NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. The former president was seen in a luxury box, waving to fans and enjoying the atmosphere as chants of “USA” echoed throughout the stadium.
Fresh off a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, where he even worked at a local McDonald’s, Trump’s presence at the game capped a busy weekend filled with election rallies in the crucial swing state.
On average, NBC shows Taylor Swift 7 times during an NFL broadcast.
Tonight, they showed Trump only once, and just for a few seconds.
This is why:
— John LeFevre (@JohnLeFevre) October 21, 2024
Earlier that day, Trump was accompanied by two former Steelers, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, who endorsed the GOP candidate. Before kickoff, the duo handed out Trump-Vance rally towels outside the stadium while urging fans to register to vote. Both players have a complicated history with the Steelers, having left the team under contentious circumstances in 2019.
Antonio Brown, known for his tumultuous exit from the Steelers following a series of public incidents, has since been distanced from the NFL despite winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before his release.
Leading up to the game, Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself donning a Steelers jersey on social media, building anticipation for the matchup.
View this post on Instagram
Upon arriving at the stadium, Trump was met by supporters, including fans wearing Pittsburgh jerseys and holding a banner that read “Trump Nation.” The excitement reached a peak when a female fan ran onto the field in the third quarter, displaying a pro-Trump sign before being escorted away by security.
The Steelers organization maintained a neutral stance regarding Trump’s attendance, stating that he was invited by a private suite holder and not by the team itself. In contrast, other Steelers legends, including Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Jerome Bettis, have endorsed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris ahead of the upcoming November 5 presidential elections.