Aaron Rodgers has denied telling a journalist he believed the killing of 20 children in the Sandy Hook school shooting was an inside job by the US government.
The New York Jets quarterback is under increased scrutiny this week after the New York Times reported that he is a potential running mate for Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign.
On Wednesday evening, CNN released a report in which one of the reporters said Rodgers told her in 2013 that he believed the Sandy Hook had been staged. CNN quotes another person as saying that Rodgers said the 2012 shooting “never happened… All those kids never existed. They were all actors.” The person claims the quarterback said the parents of the murdered children “made it all up.” They are all actors.”
Conspiracy theories surrounding the shooting have circulated for years and have been refuted. Parents of the victims have been harassed by people who do not believe the murders took place.
As I have said in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy. I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not happen. Again, I hope we learn from these and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us…
— Aaron Rodgers (@AaronRodgers12) March 14, 2024
On Thursday, Rodgers refuted CNN’s story.
“As I have said in the past, what happened in Sandy Hook was an absolute tragedy,” he wrote on X. “I am not and have never been of the opinion that the events did not happen. Again, I hope we learn from these and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life. My thoughts and prayers remain with the affected families and the entire Sandy Hook community.”
Rodgers is known for promoting widely refuted fringe theories around topics such as Covid-19, immigration, vaccines, the September 11 attacks and masking.
The 40-year-old has spoken of his admiration for Kennedy, calling him “presidential” last week. Last month he said in a podcast that he did not support Joe Biden or Donald Trump for president.
“Trump got four years. I don’t know how much this swamp has been drained,’ he said on Watch It with Eddie Bravo. “It seemed as if certain members of the establishment were staying in power or coming to power. Biden. I mean, he’s a puppet. I don’t know who actually runs the country, or if it is someone else, but he can barely get his mind straight.”
Rodgers has not yet commented on whether he would be interested in being Kennedy’s vice presidential nominee. He will receive a $38 million salary next season from the Jets, who would likely object to him campaigning during the NFL season, which starts in September. In his prime, Rodgers was one of the most talented players in the NFL, but he tore an Achilles tendon in his Jets debut last year and missed the rest of the season.