In a recent social media showdown, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes decided to “like” a post from none other than Donald Trump. On the flip side, the girlfriend of Mahomes’s star teammate threw her support behind Kamala Harris. Talk about a divided household!
But Mahomes isn’t about to get caught up in the political mud-slinging. “I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way,” Mahomes stated in a recent interview. “I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It is to inform people to do their own research and then make their best decision for them and their family.”
The star quarterback is standing firm in his decision to stay neutral. “Every time I’m on this stage and I get asked these questions, I’m going to refer back to that because I think that’s what makes America so great,” Mahomes explained. “I’ve grown up with people from every aspect of life and every background. I think the best thing about a football locker room, and kind of how I’ve grown up in baseball locker rooms is people can come together and achieve something and achieve a common goal. . . . I think if we can do that as a nation, I think we can get the best out of each other.”
Mahomes’s commitment to unity is truly inspiring. In a time where politics seem to drive us apart, his message of coming together is a refreshing change of pace. Instead of focusing on our differences, perhaps we should all take a page out of Mahomes’s playbook and concentrate on what unites us.
It’s no secret that the media profits off of division and conflict. But if more public figures followed Mahomes’s lead and steered clear of endorsing any specific candidate, maybe the landscape of politics would look a little less bleak. As Mahomes wisely stated, “Our collective interests will be better served if we focus on the things that make us similar.” Amen to that. Let’s hope more people start to follow his example and help bring us closer together as a nation.
