The New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has broken his silence to respond to the media’s claim that he believed that the shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 didn’t take place.
Rodgers Defends Himself
“As I’m on the record saying 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 take place,” Rodgers, 40, said in a statement posted to social media.
“Again, I hope that we learn from this and other tragedies to identify the signs that will allow us to prevent unnecessary loss of life,” he continued. “My thoughts and prayers continue to remain with the families affected along with the entire Sandy Hook community.”
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CNN Report On Rodgers And Sandy Hook
This came after CNN alleged that while attending the Kentucky Derby in 2013, Rodgers had claimed that the Sandy Hook shooting “was actually a government inside job and the media was intentionally ignoring it.” When asked what evidence he had to support this, Rodgers allegedly shared various theories that have been disproven numerous times.
“Such conspiracy theories were also later at the center of lawsuits brought by victims’ families when they sued conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on the matter,” the CNN report stated.
Another person who wished to remain anonymous alleged to CNN that Rodgers previously said, “Sandy Hook never happened…All those children never existed. They were all actors.”
When asked about the grieving parents, the source claimed that Rodgers said, “They’re all making it up. They’re all actors.”
Video has since surfaced from 2013 in which Rodgers, who was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers at the time, talked about how devastating the Sandy Hook shooting was and expressed his hopes that it would be a teaching moment for American society.
“I hope that we can learn from this, and look for the signs more, and not ever have something like this happen and keep this on our minds,” Rodgers said, according to Outkick. “These are things that affect all of us directly or indirectly. This needs to be something that we learn from.”
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RFK Jr. Considering Rodgers As His Running Mate
CNN issued this report after The New York Times reported that the Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was considering Rodgers to be his potential running mate for the 2024 election.
“Mr. Kennedy believes the Sandy Hook shooting was a horrific tragedy,” Kennedy’s spokesperson said in a statement in response to the CNN report. “The 20 children and 6 adults that died December 14, 2012 brought the entire country together in grief. Let us honor their memory.”
ABC News reported that Kennedy said on Tuesday that he has chosen his running mate, though he declined to name them at that time.
“And we want somebody young who’s going to look out for that generation. Aaron Rodgers is battle-tested. He’s stood up. He’s been hammered by the press, stood up for things we believe in,” Kennedy said last night, according to The Hill. “I like that part of his character. He’s a critical thinker, and I think we need that at the time as you know the rise of [artificial intelligence].”
“My father used to say one of the duties of living as a citizen of democracy is to maintain a constant posture of skepticism toward authority,” he added. “And I think Aaron’s shown that.”
“He’s also somebody who I think will help me get the country healthy again,” Kennedy concluded. “You know, he’s 40 years old. He’s focused on his own health. He’s very aware of health issues. And you know, that’s one of the things I’m going to — that’s one of the key parts of my agenda is to get the country healthy again.”
It remains to be seen whether or not Kennedy has actually chosen Rodgers as his running mate.