Former President Donald Trump urged Atlanta Braves fans to continue performing the controversial tomahawk chop at games, during a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Mike Collins in Cobb County, Georgia.
"They say you're not allowed to do that," Trump told the cheering crowd. "Do it."
The former president, who has previously participated in the chop, invited former Braves manager Brian Snitker on stage. Trump also took a moment to criticize the New York Mets' high payroll. Native American groups have long condemned the tomahawk chop as a racist and harmful gesture.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Braves fans continue to perform the chop at Truist Park, and the team still sells foam tomahawks. Snitker appeared to react with amusement to the chants during the rally. The event took place in Georgia, a state with a history of Native American displacement, including the Trail of Tears.
Unlike in 2021, when Trump's participation in the chop was widely praised by his supporters, the gesture received a more varied response this time. While some loyalists expressed approval, many critics online voiced disapproval, with some comparing the chant to other pressing national issues such as rising gas prices and the conflict in Iran.
"When's he going to put a tomahawk chop to gas prices?" one critic questioned. Another added, "This will help lower the cost of living."
Separately, some Braves fans expressed concern about a perceived "Trump curse," where teams he publicly supports or visits experience subsequent losses. The first-place Braves' supporters worried about the potential jinx impacting their team's performance.
