Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan called President Donald Trump the “great divider” in comments Thursday in Chicago.
Khan’s remarks followed an executive conference presented by Crain’s Chicago Business, a financial publication.
“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,” Khan told Crain’s reporters Nona Tepper and Zoe Galland.
“People are confused on it, [Trump] knew he could hit on it and take advantage,” Khan said. “I think what we’re seeing is the great divider overcoming the great uniter.”
Khan’s criticism of the president comes three weeks after he locked arms with players in a show of solidarity at Wembley Stadium in London during the national anthem before the Jaguars played the Baltimore Ravens.
In a statement issued Sept. 24, Khan said it was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with players and called President Trump’s remarks on the anthem controversy “divisive and contentious.”
On Sept. 23, Trump said team owners should fire players who kneel for the anthem.
Khan is one of seven NFL owners who donated at least $1 million to President Trump’s inauguration committee.
Since Trump’s election, Khan has been critical of the president’s stance on immigration and the NFL protests.
Khan told Crain’s reporters that “politics in the Western World will never be the same again,” now that Trump was in office.
“A lot of stuff like football [that] Trump does is highly calculated – he looks for issues that you can touch and it will blow people up,” Khan said.
The Jaguars will host the Los Angeles Rams at 4:05 p.m., Sunday at EverBank Field, the first game in Jacksonville since Sept. 17.