Jaguars owner who locked arms with players donated $1 million to Trump inaguration

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Shad Khan, the billionaire owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars who locked arms with players in solidarity as the national anthem played before their Sunday game, previously donated to President Trump’s inauguration.

Standing with the players puts Khan in apparent opposition to Trump, who this weekend attacked NFL players for failing to show enough respect for the national anthem.

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Federal Election Commission (FEC) forms released after Trump’s inauguration in April show Khan donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee.

Several other NFL owners, including Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and and New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.

Khan joined his players on the field before their game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, locking arms with two players as other members of the Jaguars and Ravens knelt during the playing of the national anthem. 

Trump on Friday called on NFL owners to fire players who kneel, rather than stand, during the national anthem. 

{mosads}”Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now,'” Trump said at a rally in Alabama on Friday. “‘He is fired.'” 

In response, more players than usual knelt on Sunday, in solidarity with players who do so as a protest of racial injustice.

Trump’s comments brought rebukes from multiple NFL players, the head of the NFL players’ union and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who called Trump’s comments “divisive” and said they showed a “lack of respect for the NFL.”

Several NFL executives have also spoken out against Trump and reaffirmed their players’ rights to peacefully protest.

But Trump on Sunday doubled down on his comments, calling for players to be fired or suspended for not standing during the national anthem. He also hit the NFL for not telling players to stand.

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