Rob Gronkowski Puts the Brakes on Turning Point USA Endorsement Claims After New Hampshire Polling Stop
Rob Gronkowski wanted a quiet trip to the voting booth. Instead, a wave of social media video turned his Tuesday afternoon in New Hampshire into a political flashpoint.
The retired New England Patriots tight end spent Election Day visiting Granite State polling locations alongside his longtime girlfriend, Camille Kostek. They waved the American flag, signed jerseys, and posed for photographs. But one specific snapshot—featuring Gronkowski standing near a tent and table manned by the conservative student organization Turning Point USA—set off a wildfire online. Tyler Bowyer, the chief operating officer of Turning Point USA, posted a photo of the sighting on X with the caption WOW Rob Gronkowski sightings at New Hampshire polling places! TIME TO GO VOTE,
quickly racking up more than 1.5 million views and sparking fierce debate across the political spectrum.
WOW Rob Gronkowski sightings at New Hampshire polling places! TIME TO GO VOTE pic.twitter.com/KdKyFf0cJ3
By Thursday morning, Gronkowski took to Instagram to shut down the chatter. It has been upsetting and eye-opening to see the narratives around my visit to NH on Election Day with Camille,
the four-time Super Bowl champion wrote in a statement. In regard to the images and videos circulating, we are not endorsed by or affiliated with Turning Point USA.
Clearing the Air on Granite State Appearances
The confusion stemmed from the high-profile nature of Gronkowski’s stop, which coincided with the 2026 Midterm Elections. Local newsroom WMUR reported the football star’s appearance in Bedford as part of Turning Point Action’s get-out-the-vote campaign. Yet, the reality on the ground was far more casual, according to the player’s account.
Gronkowski explained that after visiting Goffstown High School, he and Kostek crossed the street to greet excited fans who were yelling their names. They paused to take pictures and sign autographs before heading to their next destination. We took photos with people across the political spectrum throughout that morning,
Gronkowski stated. We cannot control what the media has made of it and running with—so we are here to shut down the false narratives.
A representative for Turning Point confirmed to CBS News that Gronkowski is not part of their organization, noting that he merely walked past a branded table. The retired NFL star was not the only sports celebrity making rounds in New Hampshire that Tuesday. Former teammate Danny Amendola, along with boxers Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, were also seen across New Hampshire encouraging people to vote.
Stakes Ahead of the Patriots Hall of Fame Induction
The timing of the political mix-up lands just days before a major milestone for the legendary pass-catcher. Gronkowski is scheduled to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday, November 7, at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium. Meanwhile, questions linger regarding the attendance of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who is reportedly not making the ceremony.
For Gronkowski and Kostek—who have been together since 2013, when Kostek cheered for New England—the incident shows how quickly an innocent public outing can be repackaged as clickbait. It’s disappointing to see an innocent moment stripped of context and turned into clickbait,
Gronkowski added in his statement. Our message has always been and always will be to treat everyone with kindness and hope you all will do the same.
