Donald Trump stops by primetime NFL matchup between Jets and Steelers on surprise weekend

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump An unidentified suit holder attended Sunday night's NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets at Akrisar Stadium.

Trump arrived midway through the first quarter and was greeted by a small crowd of supporters wearing Steelers jerseys with a banner reading “Trump Nation.” After he waved from the suit, some fans chanted “USA”.

Visits of former presidents are restricted Amazing weekend in Pennsylvania The election is just over two weeks away for the Trump campaign.

And at its last stop, it developed some conflicting loyalties.

Trump is a New Yorker and personal friend of New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who briefly served as US ambassador to the UK during the Trump administration.

The Steelers have been owned by the Rooney family for over 90 years and the late President/Chairman Dan Rooney served as the US Ambassador to Ireland from July 2009 to December 2012 during Barack Obama's presidency.

On Sunday, the Steelers distanced themselves from taking any sides in Trump's presence, with club spokesman Bart Lauten pointing out that Trump was a guest of a suit holder and not the team.

Trump has received support from some former Steelers. Wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le'Veon Bell — both of whom have a complicated relationship with their former teams and were considered villains during their respective departures in the spring of 2019 — have endorsed Trump.

Former teammates met Trump poll workers at an event near the stadium Sunday afternoon and greeted Trump as his plane landed at Pittsburgh International Airport just in time for kickoff.

Franchise icons and Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Jerome Bettis and the family of late Hall of Famer Franco Harris, by contrast, have endorsed Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

The decision to align with Brown and Bell was a curious one for Trump.

Brown, a star during his nine seasons in Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2018, forced a trade to Las Vegas in the spring of 2019, including famously not showing up for the team's 2018 season finale after a series of public missteps.

Bell sat out the entire 2018 season in a contract dispute before signing with the Jets in 2019. He failed to replicate the production that made him a Pro Bowler in Pittsburgh and was out of the league for three years, instead turning to celebrity boxing.

Choosing Brown seemed a bit out of territory, considering the former star's ugly exit. Brown went from sixth-round draft pick to perennial All-Pro during his nine seasons in Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2018 before his increasingly volatile behavior off the field derailed his career.

Steelers Traded Brown to the Oakland Raiders In the spring of 2019. Still, Brown was cut before the game due to a series of issues with the club, including a verbal altercation with the team's general manager with the Oakland club. He immediately signed a contract With the New England Patriots But was released only a few weeks later Allegations of sexual misconduct Along with people in her orbit, including a former coach who claimed Brown raped her. two sides Later settled out of court.

Brown resurfaced in Tampa Bay, winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. He was released after one season after multiple incidents, including a three-game suspension Violating the league's COVID-19 protocol And a freak incident in which Brown quit in the middle of a gameFamously removed his jersey and pads before leaving the stadium shirtless.

Brown's issues have made him toxic to NFL teams, even as he remains on the edge of play. He briefly served as the majority owner of a National Arena League team in Albany, New York in 2023 before Brown kicked out the franchise after failing to meet financial obligations.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump was asked about appearing with Brown because of Brown's controversial history.

In response to a reporter's question, Trump said, 'I don't know anything about the allegations.

When told it involved sexual assault allegations, Trump said, “I don't know anything about that. I know he's a football player.”