Donald Trump weighs in on Mark Sanchez stabbing scandal as Indianapolis truck driver fights for justice and felony charges mount (Image via Getty)

Mark Sanchez, the former NFL quarterback who played for the New York Jets, is in serious legal trouble after a violent fight in Indianapolis left him and a 69-year-old truck driver badly injured. The altercation happened early Saturday, October 4, 2025, near a hotel in downtown Indianapolis. Police say Sanchez was stabbed multiple times by truck driver Perry Tole after a heated argument that turned violent. On Monday, prosecutors upgraded Sanchez’s charges to a felony battery involving serious injury, which could mean one to six years in prison. The U.S. president Donald Trump has now reacted, calling Sanchez “a nice guy” and describing the situation as “crazy.”

When asked about the incident, Donald Trump said, “That was too bad. He’s a nice guy. I don’t know what happened.” Trump added that when he had met Sanchez in the past, the quarterback was always respectful. “Something bad happened. Something a little crazy happened. But he was a nice guy, I mean, I can only report that he was a nice guy. I know him a little bit,” Trump told the New York Post.Mark Sanchez, 38, is currently an NFL analyst for Fox Sports. His former Jets teammate Nick Mangold was also stunned by the arrest. Mangold told the New York Post, “I’ve known Mark since 2009. That’s 16 years and he doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body. For something like this to happen, something obviously wasn’t right that night.”

Police reports show that the fight started around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday after Sanchez, who appeared intoxicated, confronted Perry Tole over a parking issue. Officers say Mark Sanchez tried to enter Tole’s truck without permission. Tole first used pepper spray, then pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanchez in the torso. In return, Sanchez allegedly struck Tole, leaving him with a severe cut across his face.Photos obtained by FOX59 showed Tole in the hospital, his left cheek split open almost to his ear. His family said the cut went through his cheek and tongue, leaving him unable to speak clearly. Also Read: Patrick Mahomes pick six leaves Heidi Gardner in disbelief during live ManningCast with Peyton Manning and Eli Manning On Monday, Tole filed a civil lawsuit against Sanchez and Fox Sports, asking for damages for what he called “permanent disfigurement.” Mark Sanchez was first booked on misdemeanor battery, public intoxication, and unlawful entry, but now faces the much heavier felony battery charge. The case remains under investigation as both Sanchez and Tole recover from their injuries.