The owner of the New England Patriots, who is a longtime Trump supporter, said in a meeting with NFL owners, players, and executives that Trump’s strategy to use NFL player’s national anthem demonstrations to his benefit is “divisive and it’s horrible.”
[Also read: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft rips into Trump for attacks on NFL players]
“The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America,” Robert Kraft said, according to audio recordings of the meeting obtained by the New York Times.
“It’s divisive, and it’s horrible,” he added.
Kraft made the remarks during a meeting that was called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling demonstration during the national anthem and other players joining in the protests.
“Let’s make sure that we keep this confidential,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said to begin the session.
The owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, chimed in to say that said that the NFL needs to remain united against Trump’s attacks.
“We’ve got to be careful not to be baited by Trump or whomever else,” Lurie said. “We have to find a way to not be divided and not get baited.”
Trump’s feud with the NFL began last year after he told NFL owners to to fire players who knelt in protest during the national anthem.
