Donald Trump’s assertion that he instructed the Giants to keep Barkley, Saquon: ‘No talks’ were held with the President.

In a characteristically bold statement that ricocheted across the sports and political spheres, former President Donald Trump claimed during a recent rally in Pennsylvania that he “told the New York Giants to keep Saquon Barkley” and that his input was “instrumental” in efforts to retain the star running back. The only problem? According to multiple sources within the Giants organization and Barkley’s camp, “no talks” were held between Trump and the team regarding the two-time Pro Bowler. In fact, Barkley no longer plays for the Giants at all.

The startling assertion — which Trump delivered offhandedly during a campaign speech — has been met with widespread confusion, criticism, and even amusement from NFL insiders, fans, and political observers. As Barkley prepares for a fresh chapter with the Philadelphia Eagles, Trump’s attempt to insert himself into the Giants’ personnel decisions has drawn scrutiny for both its inaccuracy and timing.

At a campaign stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania — just 90 minutes from Barkley’s hometown of Coplay — Trump said the following:

“I called up the Giants. I said, ‘Don’t let Saquon go. You gotta keep Saquon. He’s the heart of the team.’ I don’t know if they listened, but I gave them good advice. He’s from right here in Pennsylvania, and we love our great players.”

To supporters in the crowd, many of whom are also Giants fans or followers of Pennsylvania football, the comment received a smattering of applause. But the statement immediately raised eyebrows among journalists and NFL insiders who knew the reality: Barkley had already signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles in free agency — and there was no indication that Trump had any involvement with negotiations on either side.

According to multiple reports, including from NFL Network and ESPN, senior officials within the Giants front office were caught off guard by Trump’s remark. One team source described the claim as “completely fabricated,” while another said there had been “zero communication” between the team and Trump or his representatives.

“Not only did he not influence our decision — there was no call,” the source told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “We had an internal process about whether to re-sign Saquon or not. It had nothing to do with the former President.”

NFL insider Ian Rapoport echoed the sentiment in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Per sources, no conversations took place between the Giants and Trump regarding Barkley. The team made its decision based on internal evaluations, salary cap strategy, and player preferences.”

Saquon Barkley’s exit from the Giants was emotional, but not unexpected. After spending six seasons in New York, where he compiled over 7,300 yards from scrimmage and became the face of the franchise, contract negotiations between the team and the former No. 2 overall pick had reached a dead end.

Following a 2023 campaign where he rushed for 962 yards behind a patchwork offensive line, Barkley made it clear he wanted both financial security and a real shot at contention. The Giants, meanwhile, appeared unwilling to offer a multi-year extension at the running back market rate. Once the team allowed him to test free agency, the Eagles — a division rival with Super Bowl aspirations — swooped in.

Barkley’s decision to join Philadelphia was deeply personal. Not only did it bring him closer to home, but he would now play behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, alongside MVP-caliber quarterback Jalen Hurts.

“To come home and have a chance to win — that’s what made the decision easy,” Barkley told reporters during his Eagles introduction. “It wasn’t about anything else.”

Nowhere in his explanation was there any mention of Trump’s supposed intervention.

Trump has never shied away from inserting himself into sports headlines, whether it’s college football, the NFL, or combat sports. He has long tried to position himself as a champion of “real athletes” and “tough players,” often using high-profile names to draw parallels to his own political toughness.

In the past, he’s claimed friendships or behind-the-scenes influence with figures like Tom Brady, Dana White, and even Nick Saban — though these relationships have frequently been overstated or dismissed outright by those involved.

His assertion about Barkley fits that pattern, offering a campaign-friendly narrative of a President standing up for a local hero, regardless of its accuracy.

“I told them to keep Saquon,” Trump said again later in the same rally, before pivoting to criticize the NFL’s “woke policies.”

Unsurprisingly, Trump’s comments became a social media lightning rod — especially among NFC East fans. Eagles fans largely laughed off the claim, joking that Trump “might be a double agent” trying to sabotage the Giants by keeping them attached to an aging running back.

Giants fans, meanwhile, had a different reaction: fatigue. Many longtime supporters have endured the rollercoaster of the Barkley era — electric rookie season, injuries, contract drama, and an emotional departure — and were baffled at Trump trying to rewrite the narrative.

One Giants fan wrote on Reddit: “Imagine losing Barkley to the Eagles and then having Trump claim he saved the day six weeks later.”

Another joked: “If Trump really wanted to help the Giants, he’d tell them to fix the O-line.”

Critics of Trump quickly seized on the moment as emblematic of his broader pattern of embellishment. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow called it “a delusional attempt to inject himself into a story that has nothing to do with him,” while political columnist David Frum noted that Trump’s statement was “in keeping with a long history of fabulism.”

Even some conservative commentators expressed skepticism. Fox Sports contributor Clay Travis said on his show, “It’s weird. If you’re going to make up a sports story, at least get the timeline right. Barkley’s already gone. What’s the point of saying this now?”

As of publication, Saquon Barkley has not publicly commented on Trump’s statement. Those close to him suggest he’s unlikely to address it, as he’s focused on preparing for his first season in Philadelphia.

One source close to Barkley said the player is “just focused on football, not politics,” and would prefer to “let others do the talking.”

Interestingly, Trump’s remarks may only fuel the already white-hot rivalry between the Giants and Eagles. With Barkley now wearing green, and his move seen by many Giants fans as a betrayal, Trump’s comments could be viewed — ironically — as supporting the enemy.

One Philadelphia columnist quipped: “Trump is doing campaign stops for Saquon in Pennsylvania? That’s the best endorsement we could ask for.”

It also raises questions about Trump’s awareness of the NFL’s current landscape. Claiming credit for a player who no longer plays for the team he’s referencing could undermine attempts to connect with sports fans who follow the game closely.

Trump’s strategy has often been about cultural signaling — portraying himself as in tune with the everyday fan, whether in a diner in Iowa or a stadium in New Jersey. His reference to Barkley was likely aimed at energizing Pennsylvania voters and projecting an image of influence, even if the facts didn’t align.

But in the information age — especially among a football-obsessed electorate — such claims don’t go unchecked.

“It’s one thing to pander,” said political analyst Charles Blow. “It’s another to blatantly mislead. Trump tried to rewrite sports history in a state where sports fans know every detail. That’s a tough audience to fool.”

As Trump continues to campaign in battleground states like Pennsylvania, stories like the Barkley claim highlight the tension between showmanship and truth. While it may register as a minor gaffe to political insiders, for sports fans — particularly those invested in the Giants or Eagles — it lands differently.

Barkley, one of the most respected and admired players of his generation, doesn’t need political endorsements. And the Giants, for all their faults, weren’t taking team-building advice from any politician — let alone one who hadn’t spoken to them.

In the end, Trump’s comments may fade into the long list of eyebrow-raising moments from his campaign trail. But for Saquon Barkley, his next chapter is written not by speeches or slogans — but by carries, cuts, and touchdowns in a different shade of NFC East green.