Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, former NFL star Jay Cutler endorse Trump

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and golf legend Jack Nicklaus endorsed President Trump in the upcoming election, which placed both men at the top of Twitter’s trending topics on Thursday.

Nicklaus, 80, wrote to his nearly 500,000 followers that the election is “not a personality contest; it’s about patriotism.”

“His love for America and its citizens, and putting his country first, has come through loud and clear,” he added while urging Americans to vote.

Get out and vote. I did! pic.twitter.com/IfQb3NeSO3

— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) October 29, 2020

Cutler, now retired after stints with the Broncos and Dolphins after several years in Chicago, posted Nicklaus’s endorsement on his Instagram page while captioning, “Sign Me Up” and “Never a doubt” in separate posts.

Both Nicklaus and Cutler endorsed Trump in 2016.

“I’m happy with the [election] results,” Cutler told ESPN after Trump won four years ago. “I’ve supported Trump for a while. I’m not going to dive into it. I know it’s a sensitive issue.”

The endorsements sparked criticisms, mostly from those on the left, on social media.

Trump supporters:

OUT: Atheletes should just keep their opinions to themselves and shut up about politics.

IN: Did you see that both Jack Nicklaus and Jay Cutler have endorsed Donald Trump? Isn’t it wonderful how these influential athletes have embraced Dear Leader? #MAGA

— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) October 29, 2020

I’m shocked — shocked! — that Jack Nicklaus (a very rich, very old white guy who has spent most of his life in country clubs) and Jay Cutler (a science-denying, anti-vaxxer putz who hangs out with Tomi Lahren) support Donald Trump. Shocked!

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 29, 2020

Thank God they only named a drink after Arnold Palmer, because if they named one after Jack Nicklaus it would be half cyanide, half Kool-Aid https://t.co/DjuIHU90qd

— Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) October 29, 2020

Jack Nicklaus is 80 years old.

This will be the most divisive thing he has ever done. https://t.co/KraL2UaHE3

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 29, 2020

Trump’s other supporters in the sports world include UFC Commissioner Dana White, former NFL star Herschel Walker, former NFL coach Mike Ditka, former MLB All-Star Johnny Damon, and Damon’s former teammate, Curt Schilling.