Former President Donald Trump, while on the campaign trail in Nevada, posed for a photo with three prominent Las Vegas Raiders players on Friday.
During the event, Trump, currently battling Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris, also received an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had recently ended his independent run for the presidency, as Fox News reports, and the images with the star athletes only helped the day's events go viral.
Defensive end Maxx Crosby, quarterback Gardner Minshew, and wide receiver Alex Bachman were the Raiders players who posed with Trump. The photo, which quickly gained attention, was posted on X by Henry Rodgers of the Daily Caller.
Crosby, a standout defensive player for the Raiders, has previously shown support for Trump. After an assassination attempt on the former president in July, Crosby referred to Trump as the "GOAT" in a social media post.
The photograph taken on Friday appears to reaffirm Crosby’s admiration for Trump, as the defensive end stood beside the former president with a broad smile. Crosby’s enthusiasm for Trump has been notable among NFL players, who typically avoid political endorsements.
Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew, a new addition to the Raiders this season, joined Crosby in the photograph. Minshew, who signed with the team during the offseason, has been named the starting quarterback by Head Coach Antonio Pierce.
Alex Bachman, a wide receiver vying for a spot on the Raiders' active roster, was the third player to be photographed with Trump. Bachman’s presence alongside the former president adds a unique dimension to his preseason efforts to secure a position on the team.
Trump’s appearance in Nevada was part of a broader campaign push in the state, where he was promoting his "no tax on tips" policy. The event also featured Trump thanking RFK Jr. for his endorsement, a significant moment in his ongoing campaign.
"We just had a very nice endorsement from RFK Jr. Bobby," Trump remarked during the event. He expressed his appreciation for Kennedy's support, calling him "a great guy, respected by everybody."
Following the event in Nevada, Trump was scheduled to speak in Glendale, Arizona. The endorsement from RFK Jr. was heavily speculated upon in the lead-up to this speech, especially after Kennedy ended his independent bid for the presidency.
In addition to his campaign stops, Trump’s connection to Nevada is longstanding, particularly through his business ventures. The Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, which opened in 2008, remains a prominent fixture in the city’s skyline. Trump's partnership with Phil Ruffin in developing the hotel has been financially successful, with over $400 million in unit sales reported since its opening. The hotel’s status as the tallest building in Las Vegas underscores Trump’s business influence in the region.
Nevada, a key battleground state, has historically leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections. However, Trump has maintained a lead in polls within the state throughout much of the 2024 campaign cycle. Historically, the candidate who wins Nevada tends to secure the presidency, with Trump’s 2016 campaign being a notable exception. The state’s political significance is further highlighted by its record of accurately predicting election outcomes in 10 of the last 11 cycles.
As the Raiders prepare to open their season on September 8 in Los Angeles against the Chargers, the photo with Trump has added a political twist to the team’s preseason narrative. The intersection of sports and politics continues to generate discussion, particularly as the 2024 election draws nearer.
