Whenever an athlete appears at a presidential event, it tends to stir up a lot of chatter, particularly from liberal outlets. This issue, however, seems to be turning into quite the spectacle, leaving professionals like Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey fielding questions they might prefer to avoid.
Humphrey, along with teammates Ryan Eckley, Tyler Loop, and Nick Moore, met President Donald Trump earlier this week before he unveiled plans for a shipyard with Anduril Industries, which is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs in the area.
After sharing a video of himself in a heavily armored vehicle with the president, he faced a barrage of media inquiries when he returned to the team’s facilities.
“President Trump actually asked us if we wanted to ride with him, and I was not going to turn down a ride with the president,” Humphrey reflected on the experience.
At 30 years old, he addressed more questions regarding his political stance, admitting he “did not vote” in the last election—possibly never having voted at all—and asserted, “I don’t really have any political beliefs.”
Responses on social media were quick and harsh. Some users called him a pawn for the administration, with a Baltimore sports radio account urging him to “look in the camera. Stand on it.” Others commented on his demeanor, suggesting he couldn’t even maintain eye contact.
Some labeled him a “useful idiot” and a “political prop.” Notably, Dallas Cowboys writer Clarence Hill Jr. referred to Humphrey’s responses as a “clown show.”
In contrast, former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant challenged that criticism, questioning why it matters and stating, “I’m telling the world now…as soon as I see Trump, I’m taking a photo with him,” even adding, “I hope he’s down to have a margarita.”
During his interview, Humphrey expressed a desire to educate himself on political issues ahead of the next election. “I did try to vote this last time, but my absentee ballot didn’t come in,” he shared. He expressed an intention to vote next time, acknowledging feeling “extremely uninformed” about current laws.
Essentially, Humphrey aimed to ensure that his voting decisions align with his beliefs. He also highlighted the economic potential for Sparrows Point, Maryland, where the planned shipyard is located, expressing optimism about the economic growth it could bring.
He remarked, “I believe in the area, and I’m pretty excited for the economy boom that could come from this.” As the conversation wrapped up, he was asked if he had seen any social media reactions regarding his meeting with the president. Humphrey took a positive approach and shared that he hadn’t had time to engage with the “love” he had received online.
“I am on social media at a max of about five minutes a day, so I was not able to interact with all the love I have received,” he said.
