Report: Shad Khan calls President Donald Trump 'the great divider'

The Jaguars owner says the president has taken advantage of divisive issues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – President Donald Trump put the NFL on blast three weeks ago when he publicly challenged team owners to fire players who don't stand for the national anthem. The league's response came two days later with players around the league kneeling for the pre-game ceremony.

But while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has resisted pressure from the White House to make standing for the occasion mandatory and urged teams to move past the controversy, owners, by and large, have not taken a public stand against President Trump -- until now.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who locked arms with players on the sidelines before the Sept. 24 game in London against Baltimore in a show of solidarity, reportedly did not hold back Thursday during an executive conference in Chicago.

Khan, 67, contributed $1 million to Trump's inauguration. But that didn't stop him from opening up about Trump's remarks, his players' feelings toward them and how they chose to respond as a team, Crain's Chicago Business reports.

"I had heard from a lot of the players what their feelings were, how offended they were (by Trump's comments) and what they were going to do and my concern was that they don't do anything to hurt themselves," Khan said, according to Crain's. "We wanted to do something as a team because a team divided against itself cannot stand."

"You have to give Trump credit, people are confused on the First Amendment versus patriotism, that if you exercise your First Amendment you're not a patriot, which is crazy... People are confused on it, (Trump) knew he could hit on it and take advantage. I think what we're seeing is the great divider overcoming the great uniter," he added.

News4Jax reporter Scott Johnson spoke with Jacksonville some Jacksonville residents to get their thoughts on Khan's remarks.

"I see what he’s saying and I agree with that. It’s divisive (and) shouldn’t have been said," Larry Garmon Jr. said, agreeing with Khan's statement. 

John Knight opposes Khan's statement, saying politics is an "area where he shouldn't be involved in except for making the players stand."

NFL owners are expected to meet next week to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding the national anthem protests, according to The Washington Post.


About the Authors:

Scott is a multi-Emmy Award Winning Anchor and Reporter, who also hosts the “Going Ringside With The Local Station” Podcast. Scott has been a journalist for 25 years, covering stories including six presidential elections, multiple space shuttle launches and dozens of high-profile murder trials.