Patrick Mahomes Declines to Endorse Presidential Candidate Amid Trump's Praise

Patrick Mahomes won't endorse a presidential candidate after Trump praises Brittany Mahomes

"I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote, to inform people to do their own research and then make their best decision for them and their family," the superstar QB told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday. "Every time I'm on this stage and I get asked these questions, I'm going to refer back to that because I think that's what makes America so great," he added. Mahomes' comments came one day after Taylor Swift took to Instagram to denounce faked images of her endorsing Trump, saying in a lengthy post that she would be voting for Vice President Kamala Harris. "Recently I was made aware that AI of 'me' falsely endorsing Donald Trump's presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation," she wrote. "It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth. " Trump responded saying in a phone interview Wednesday on "Fox and Friends" that he is "not a Taylor Swift fan." "I actually like Mrs. Mahomes much better, if you want to know the truth. She's a big Trump fan," he said. "I like Brittany. Brittany's great. ... She's a big MAGA fan," he continued, referencing his slogan "Make America Great Again." That was not the first time Trump mentioned Brittany Mahomes, who has become close with Swift after the pop star began dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Last month, Trump thanked the "beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me" after she apparently liked -- and then unliked -- his Instagram post outlining the "2024 GOP platform." At Wednesday's news conference, Patrick Mahomes was asked if Trump's repeated mentions of his wife could affect him. "No, I mean, I think at the end of the day it's about me and my family and how we treat other people," the quarterback said. "And I think you see that Brittany does a lot in the community, I do a lot in the community to help bring people up and give people other opportunities to use their voice." "In the political times, people are going to use stuff here and there but I can't let that affect how I go about my business every single day and live my life," he added.

Patrick Mahomes staying out of election

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday he will not be endorsing either Vice President Harris or former President Trump in November, just over a week after the former president thanked the player's wife, Brittany Mahomes, for "so strongly defending" him on social media. "I don't want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way," Mahomes told reporters at his scheduled media availability Wednesday. "I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote," he added. "It's to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family." The comments from the two-time MVP came less than a day after global super star Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs player Travis Kelce, threw her support behind Harris in the presidential race. Trump shrugged off the endorsement, stating he "was not a Taylor Swift fan" and that it "was just a question of time" before she endorsed a Democrat. He also suggested she could "pay a price for it in the marketplace." The GOP nominee instead praised Brittany Mahomes, who liked and then seemingly unliked a post on Instagram from the GOP nominee last month. It featured a list of 20 issues a potential second Trump administration would prioritize, including the "largest deportation operation in American history" and "ending" inflation. When asked about the idea of Trump referencing his wife, the three-time Super Bowl winner said, "I think at the end of the day, it's about me and my family and how we treat other people." "I think you see Brittany does a lot in the community. I do a lot in the community to help bring people up, and give people an opportunity to use their voice," Mahomes continued. "In political times people are going to use stuff here and there, but I can't let that affect how I go about my business every single day of my life, and trying to live it to the best of my ability." In the wake of criticism for liking the post, his wife said last month, "I mean honestly, to be a hater as an adult, you have to have some deep rooted issues you refuse to heal from childhood. There's no reason your brain is fully developed and you hate to see others doing well." Swift became friends with the Mahomes family last year when her relationship began with Kelce. She was often spotted in the same suite as Mahomes's family during the Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium. While they were not seen together during the Chiefs's season-opener last week, the couples were spotted last weekend at the U.S. Open. Mahomes said he is "not thinking about" people's political views when he is "hanging out with whoever." "I'm thinking about the people and how they treat other people, and I was with a lot of great people this week," he added. In her endorsement of Harris, moments after Tuesday night's presidential debate ended, Swift said she is backing the vice president "she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them." "I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos," Swift wrote to her more than 280 million Instagram followers. Harris's campaign quickly seized on the support, using the celebrity endorsement in their fundraising emails. The "Love Story" signer also cited fake images generated by artificial intelligence that suggested she was supporting Trump as a reason for endorsing the Democratic nominee. Swift signed her message, "Childless Cat Lady," a jab at GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance's (R-Ohio) past comments attacking Harris and other prominent Democrats.