Rob Gronkowski's involvement with Turning Point USA scrutinized after New Hampshire appearance
New screenshots of Turning Point USA messages suggest former NFL player Rob Gronkowski had a more active role in the group's Election Day outreach than he later claimed.
Screenshots of text messages and promotional graphics released by Courier’s chief political correspondent Colin Booth show Turning Point USA highlighting former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s appearance in New Hampshire on Election Day. The materials included invitations such as “Come Meet Gronk on Election Day” and messages phrased as if sent directly from the athlete, for example, “What’s up, New Hampshire, it’s Gronk! Election Day is almost here, and it’s time to make your game plan for November 3.”
Turning Point also distributed photos and videos of Gronkowski interacting with voters, urging supporters to “Get Out and Vote Now.” A spokesperson for the organization later told CBS News that Gronkowski was not an official member of Turning Point USA and had only visited their booth.
After the midterm elections, Gronkowski posted on Instagram that he was “not endorsed by or affiliated with Turning Point USA” and described the suggestion that he was a campaign figure as “upsetting.” In a subsequent interview with WMUR-TV, he said he had simply stopped at a high school booth, taken photos, and signed items, adding that he met people across the political spectrum.
Booth, who posted the screenshots, commented that the situation appeared “more like buyer’s remorse than anything else.”