The New York Giants fired back at President Donald Trump on Monday. Trump had claimed he told the team to keep running back Saquon Barkley before Barkley left for the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley and his Eagles teammates were at the White House celebrating their Super Bowl LIX victory.
"By the way, I have to tell you something," Trump said while talking about Barkley’s incredible leap against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I was with the Giants and the head coach and some people and said, ‘Do anything you have to, but don’t lose Saquon.’ They lost Saquon." Trump added, "That was not good. I called that one."
Trump praised Barkley’s time with the Giants. "That was an easy one to call because he played damn well for the Giants. I can tell you that. He made the right decision because it is a team sport, and there’s great people on this team," he said.
But the Giants weren’t having it. Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon told Front Office Sports, "there were no conversations" between Trump and the organization about Barkley. Hanlon also didn’t hold back on social media.
"With all due respect, stop yapping. Be the leader we all want you to be. And my 401K wants you to be. I’m trying to retire!!" he wrote on X, tagging the president.
Barkley had spent time with Trump before the White House event. He was spotted at Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. Barkley later flew back to Washington with the president on Air Force One.
Before the celebration, Barkley defended hanging out with Trump. "lol some people are really upset cause I played golfed and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT," he wrote. "Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand."
"Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump ! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have amazing day," Barkley added.