Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan is helping to lead a resistance against President Trump's recent 'demands' that all NFL players stand for the national anthem.
Khan was one of the first owners to link arms with his team on the sideline following Trump's initial cry for NFL players to respect the anthem.
"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 Zoe Galland of Chicago Business. "We wanted to do something as a team, because a team divided against itself cannot stand."
NFL owners will meet in New York to discuss the ongoing controversy next week - one which Khan says Trump has largely manufactured.
"A lot of the stuff like football (that) Trump does is highly calculated—he looks for issues that you can touch and it will blow people up," said Khan.
"You have to give (him) 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."
