The New York Giants locker room is buzzing, but not just about football. Pass rusher Abdul Carter has ignited a firestorm by calling out his own quarterback, Jaxson Dart, over a political appearance. Now, a segment of the Giants faithful is voicing frustration—and some are demanding Carter be shipped out of town.
It all started when Dart introduced President Trump at a rally in New York last week. Carter, never one to shy away from controversy, didn't hold back during his media availability on Friday. He made it clear that while he respects Dart as a teammate, he couldn't stay silent on what he sees as a matter of principle.
“Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself in what he does but he represents all of us. And that goes for anybody who wears a Giants uniform. But 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,” Carter said, as reported by Pro Football Talk.
Carter emphasized that his criticism isn't personal. “And that doesn’t mean that we have to spread hate. It doesn’t mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day. Every team meeting we’re close, we talk, you know, we just — as long as we make sure we got the same goal as a team and our goals align, which they do, I feel like that’s all that matters. So, I just want to move past this, and, yeah, that’s it.”
But not everyone is ready to move on. Social media erupted with fans calling for Carter's head—and his jersey. “Just trade Abdul already or send him to the view,” one fan posted. “Next on the trade block – Abdul Carter,” another wrote. The hashtag-like calls continued: “Abdul is going to make a great addition to someone’s team after Harbaugh trades him,” and bluntly, “It’s time to trade Abdul Carter.”
The backlash has been intense enough that some might wonder if the Giants front office is listening. But don't hold your breath. Despite the noise, New York has no plans to part ways with the former No. 3 overall pick after just one season. Carter's rookie campaign was promising—43 tackles, 23 QB hits, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in 17 games—and the team expects him to take a big leap in 2026.
This controversy echoes the recent Boomer Esiason ripping Abdul Carter for 'boneheaded' social media attack on Giants QB, adding fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, Jaxson Dart addresses Giants teammates after Trump rally backlash, trying to keep the focus on football. And the debate isn't just among fans—Boomer vs. Bettis: Giants QB Jaxson Dart's Trump rally stance splits NFL legends shows the division runs deep.
For now, Carter is still a Giant, and the team is betting on his talent. The Giants kick off the 2026 season on “Sunday Night Football” against the Dallas Cowboys, and all eyes will be on how this chemistry experiment plays out on the field.
