Fact Check: Did Michael Jordan say he’s leaving the Democratic Party?

JUPITER, FLORIDA: A claim has been circulating online suggesting that basketball legend Michael Jordan has left the Democratic Party and publicly denounced his affiliation with it. The rumor picked up speed on social media, prompting many to wonder whether Jordan actually made such an announcement. Here’s what the evidence shows.

Claim: Michael Jordan broke away from the Democratic Party

Earlier this month, posts on social media claimed that Michael Jordan had declared he was breaking with the Democratic Party. The viral posts, shared across X and Facebook, carried a caption saying, “Michael Jordan is the latest to walk away from the Democrat Party.”

The posts included fabricated quotes attributed to Jordan, “I tried to stick it out. I just can’t do it anymore.” They also falsely suggested that Jordan had cited the moral bankruptcy of Democrats and accused them of obstructing the president. According to the posts, Jordan allegedly told reporters, “Like him or not, he has to be able to do his job.

None of these statements came from Jordan.

Fact Check: The rumor is fake, spread by a social media account

The claim is false. No reputable sports or entertainment news outlet has reported any such announcement, and the rumor contradicts Jordan’s long-established reluctance to comment publicly on political matters.

Searches performed across Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo showed no legitimate articles or statements supporting the claim — only the viral posts circulating on social platforms.

According to reporting from fact-checking outlet Snopes, the rumor originated from a now-deleted post by a Facebook user named Richie Furay. The user followed up with another post referencing the deleted claim, while other accounts amplified the rumor across platforms.

This episode is yet another example of a false political claim being pinned on Jordan.

Previous claims falsely attributed to Michael Jordan

In November 2024, just days before the US presidential election, social media posts on X falsely claimed that Jordan had endorsed President Donald Trump. One viral post included an edited image implying that Jordan had become the latest NBA star to publicly back a presidential candidate.

However, Snopes debunked that claim as well. On November 3, 2024, a representative for Jordan told both The Independent and The Daily Mail that the rumor was untrue. Jordan did not endorse Trump or his opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“There is absolutely no truth to the claim that Michael Jordan has made an endorsement in the presidential election,” the representative said at the time.

As with the earlier rumor, there is no evidence that Michael Jordan has said he is leaving the Democratic Party. The claim remains entirely unsubstantiated.