BREAKING: The Manning Family Won’t Back Down From Their Political Views
The Manning family stands firm on their political beliefs.
Usually, when the Manning family is in the news, it has something to do with football. Unfortunately, the family name is dealing with a ton of controversy due to one of the younger family members.
The controversy involving Texas quarterback Arch Manning and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe erupted after the team took down Ohio State. Following the Texas Longhorns’ thrilling comeback victory, Steve Sarkisian abruptly cut off his postgame sideline interview with Rowe. Subsequently, an internet user created a violent AI-altered clip that falsely depicted the head coach aggressively slapping Rowe to the turf.
During a standard Monday press conference, a reporter asked Manning if he had seen any viral social media edits. What he should have done was ignore it, but the sophomore quarterback smiled, laughed out loud, and openly called the violent fake video “hilarious.”
His lighthearted reaction to simulated violence against a female journalist triggered immediate, widespread public condemnation from fans and sports media. Soon, he and the Manning family would be in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Arch may have apologized for his actions, but the family stands firm elsewhere.
The Manning Family Holds Its Political Ground
Peyton Manning (Photo via Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
NFL legend Peyton Manning has traditionally kept his personal political affiliation private, but his actions strongly align him with the Republican Party. Public records from the Federal Election Commission revealed that Manning has consistently donated to various GOP political campaigns. Specifically, he has contributed thousands of dollars over the years to high-profile figures like Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Lamar Alexander.
“The legendary NFL quarterback had reportedly been a ‘longstanding’ supporter of the Republican Party. He had reportedly donated close to $20,000 to Republican candidates, according to USA TODAY.
Aside from financial donations, Manning accepted an invitation to speak at a joint Senate-House Republican party retreat. He has also spent time playing golf with Donald Trump and was photographed alongside Donald Trump Jr.
What Eli Manning Has Done
Eli Manning (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
As for Eli Manning, he does not claim a public political affiliation, strictly preferring to keep his views entirely private. During his highly celebrated playing career, he consciously adhered to a strict rule of staying out of politics. He later admitted that it “wasn’t something I was super passionate about in the first place.”
However, public campaign records reveal he has occasionally supported a few political figures behind the scenes. Specifically, Manning donated $2,700 to the 2016 presidential campaign of Republican candidate Jeb Bush. He and his wife, Abby, also hosted a local New Jersey fundraiser for Democratic Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
Aside from those actions, his personal experiences with Donald Trump have been limited to a casual golf round.
