Michael Jordan is setting the record straight after rumors swirled online of the NBA legend backing Donald Trump as president.
Jordan’s representatives told the Daily Mail that he has not endorsed anyone this election, despite the rumblings. “There is absolutely no truth to the claim that Michael Jordan has made an endorsement in the presidential election,” his rep told the tabloid.
Many celebrities, even those in the sports world, have chosen a side in this election. Trump, the Republican nominee, has been backed by the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, UFC CEO Dana White, and more. Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has been endorsed by LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Steph Curry, among others.
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With a tight race ticking down to Tuesday, even a celebrity endorsement could possibly swing the pendulum between the two candidates.
Jordan is a notably private person and has remained mostly silent on politics, saying he never thought of himself as an activist but a basketball player.
One of the star’s most famous quotes was “Republicans buy sneakers, too,” in reference to a 1990 Senate race in North Carolina, his home state, between Democrat Harvey Gantt and Republican Jesse Helms.
Jordan later said the quote was was made in jest, but didn‘t walk back the statement in ESPN’s The Last Dance, which premiered in 2020.
“I wasn’t a politician when I was playing my sport. I was focused on my craft. Was that selfish? Probably. But that was my energy. That’s where my energy was,” Jordan said.
