Former MSNBC host Joy Reid, known for her outspoken political commentary, announced on May 31 that she has officially stopped cheering for the New York Giants. Her decision stems from a recent incident involving the team’s rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who introduced President Donald Trump at a rally in upstate New York and used the word “pleasured” to describe his meeting with the former president. Reid called Dart an “idiot” and said his remarks made her feel “repulsed” as a longtime Giants supporter.
Who Is Joy Reid and Why Her Opinion Matters
Joy Reid rose to national prominence as a political analyst on MSNBC before launching her own primetime show, Joy Reid Tonight. Over the past two decades she has built a reputation for blending hard‑news analysis with personal storytelling, often speaking candidly about the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. Her fan status with the Giants dates back to her childhood in New York, where she grew up watching the team’s games on television and attending a few home matches in the early 2000s. Because Reid’s platform reaches millions of viewers, her public statements about sports teams can influence both fans and the broader conversation about athletes’ political engagement.
Jaxson Dart’s Controversial Rally Appearance
Jaxson Dart, a 23‑year‑old quarterback drafted by the Giants in the 2024 NFL Draft, made headlines last month when he appeared at a rally for President Donald Trump at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. During the event, Dart introduced the former president and said he was “pleasured” to meet him. The phrasing sparked immediate backlash on social media, with critics accusing Dart of using a clumsy turn of phrase and praising a polarizing political figure.
Trump, now 79, responded to the criticism by defending Dart’s right to express his enthusiasm, calling the backlash “unfair” and urging supporters to focus on the message rather than the wording. The exchange placed Dart at the center of a growing debate about how much political expression is appropriate for professional athletes, especially those just beginning their careers.
Reid’s Reaction on “On Sunday with Jack Cocchiarella”
During her interview on the talk show On Sunday with Jack Cocchiarella, Reid did not mince words. She said, “I have to say, as somebody who grew up as a Giants fan, I was repulsed by Jaxson Dart.” She then dissected his choice of words, asking, “First of all, he didn’t say he was happy, he said he was ‘pleasured’ to meet the president. What does that even mean? Is English your first language? What are you saying?”
Reid continued, “I was repulsed as a Giants fan. Well, former now.” She added that Dart’s support of Trump reinforced her belief that the former president is “not a normal president,” and that Dart’s comments were not about praising the office of the presidency but rather about endorsing a specific individual.
Why the Incident Resonates With Fans
The Giants have a diverse fan base that spans the political spectrum. When a player publicly aligns with a controversial figure
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