Donald Trump Attends Jets vs. Steelers Primetime NFL Game After Busy Weekend

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, attended the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets as a guest of an unidentified suite holder at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night. His arrival occurred midway through the first quarter, where he was met by supporters holding a "Trump Nation" banner and chanting "USA."

This event concluded a busy weekend in Pennsylvania for Trump's campaign, now just over two weeks from the election. Despite being a New Yorker and friends with Jets owner Woody Johnson, Trump's attendance sparked mixed emotions given the Steelers' historical ties with the Rooney family, who have owned the team for over 90 years.

The Steelers publicly distanced themselves from Trump's presence, clarifying he was not a team guest. However, former Steelers players like Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell endorsed Trump and met with him at a nearby event, despite their tumultuous departures from the team in 2019. In contrast, Steelers icons such as Joe Greene and Jerome Bettis endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump’s choice to associate with Brown and Bell has drawn criticism due to their controversial exits from the NFL. Brown’s career has been plagued by off-field issues, leading to his departure from multiple teams, while Bell has struggled since leaving Pittsburgh. When asked about appearing with Brown, Trump claimed ignorance of the athlete's allegations, focusing solely on his football performance.

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AP writers Michelle Price and Will Weissert contributed to this report.