Aaron Rodgers ignored Donald Trump – who could have been his political opponent – on Saturday night as the former US president attended UFC 302.
Trump, who was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday, shook hands with several fans as he walked by Rodgers, with many of them standing up for him.
But the Jets quarterback, who was with former Packers teammate Marcedes Lewis, remained seated as Trump smiled in his direction.
Rodgers, meanwhile, kept a straight face and did not appear to make eye contact with Trump.
Late last month, Rodgers revealed just how much he considered becoming Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate – suggesting he rejected RFK and not the other way around.
Aaron Rodgers did not acknowledge Donald Trump as he walked by during UFC 302
Trump smiled in the direction of Rodgers and his ex-teammate Marcedes Lewis
The New York Times had previously reported that Rodgers was on RFK’s shortlist of running mates, though that position ultimately went to entrepreneur Nicole Shanahan.
‘I love Bobby. We had a couple really nice conversations,’ Rodgers told reporters from the Jets facility.
‘But there were really two options. It was retire and be his VP or keep playing. And I wanted to keep playing.’
Rodgers and Kennedy Jr. have developed a relationship in recent years, with both men notably skeptic of vaccines.
Evidently, Rodgers feels he has unfinished business with the Jets after missing nearly the entirety of the 2024 season (with an Achilles tear), in which the team limped to a 7-10 finish without him.
Chants of ‘USA, USA!’ broke out, after Trump followed the entrance of fighter Sean Strickland
Aaron Rodgers has hinted that it was his choice not to be RFK Jr’s vice presidential candidate
The quarterback was unable to make a sensationally-short injury comeback during the season that he suggested was possible, but nonetheless told reporters last month that he feels ‘really good.’
Trump was given a massive ovation on Saturday night at the Prudential Center following the conclusion of his hush money trial.
He walked into the arena around 10pm ET with UFC boss Dana White and was greeted to chants of ‘USA, USA!’
Chants of ‘we want Trump’ and ‘f**k Joe Biden’ were heard throughout the crowd.
Trump was also warmly received by comedian Theo Von, who shook the president’s hand.
Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday
The jury in Trump’s trial found he illegally influenced the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels – who has claimed to have a consensual sexual encounter with Trump a decade prior (Trump has denied that).
Each count carries a possible maximum sentence of up to four years in prison.
Trump will be sentenced by on July 11, although a custodial sentence is unlikely to follow.