Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan Again Defends NFL Protesters, Calls Trump 'Great Divider'

CHICAGO, IL -- Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan attended the Crain's Who's Who in Chicago Business conference Thursday, and again defended NFL players' right to take a knee during the national anthem. During the conference, Khan called President Donald Trump "the great divider" and said he's "polarizing" the nation. Last month, in a show of solidarity, Khan linked arms with his players at Wembley Stadium during the anthem.

Khan got his start in Illinois after emigrating from Pakistan when he was 16. His story is the epitome of the American dream: he went from washing dishes for $1.20 an hour to running a multi-billion dollar company.

"I think the essence of America is the freedom to express yourself," Khan said in an interview with Sports Illustrated in September. "If someone does that by kneeling, God bless them. It's not something that I would do. But that's your choice. There shouldn't be any way to punish, ostracize or in any way make them feel bad."

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

NFL owners are gathering in New York next week to meet with the players' union to discuss the controversy surrounding the protest. Trump has asked owners to change players' contracts to make them stand during the anthem.

"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 said in a Crain's quote.

Khan said Trump knew he could take advantage of the NFL anthem controversy.

"I think what we're seeing is the great divider overcoming the great uniter," Khan said.

Critics of Khan have often cited his donation of $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee as hypocritical, but Khan has defended the donation, saying he expected Trump to be more of a centrist in his politics, and not be so polarizing.

Top image via AP