Once a friend and donor to Trump, Shad Khan’s perspective shifted in 2017. Standing with his players during the anthem protests, he put unity and principle above politics. And this fan summed it all up:
“Shad’s public stance on Trump shifted to disappointment by 2017. He called Trump toxic & the great divider. Said we need better social justice for immigration, race, etc. Said Trump targeting the NFL was basically a temper tantrum from all his failures at trying to buy an NFL team”
Shad's public stance on Trump shifted to disappointment by 2017. He called Trump toxic & the great divider. Said we need better social justice for immigration, race, etc. Said Trump targeting the NFL was basically a temper tantrum from all his failures at trying to buy a NFL team pic.twitter.com/WJpcP9oZLA
— ██ Nox (@lighthoarder) October 17, 2025
This comment is from a fan’s post about Khan’s donations for the campaign during the 2016 presidential election.
From Trump Fan to Protest Stand: Shad Khan’s Big Switch in 2017
Shad Khan got along with the president at first. In 2016, the NFL legend donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, contributing to a massive $107 million total, similar to other owners, such as the Texans’ Bob McNair. Even though Khan was against Trump’s travel ban on Muslim countries, he is the NFL’s only owner who recognized the new guy’s business ideas could be beneficial.
But old wounds from 2014 came back: Trump tried to buy the Buffalo Bills for $1.4 billion, and owner Khan declined. In 2017, Trump tweeted that owners should terminate players kneeling during the anthem to oppose racial injustice. Khan didn’t sit quietly.
At the Jaguars-Ravens game in London’s Wembley Stadium, he held arms with his TE, Marcedes Lewis, Telvin Smith, defensive end Malik Jackson, and even Ravens star Terrell Suggs. They united together as the anthem played—a clear “not on my watch” to Trump’s words.
In a talk with Crain’s Chicago Business, Khan called Trump “the great divider” and said
“I think what we’re seeing is the great divider overcoming the great uniter.”
He linked the NFL jabs straight to that Bills snub, adding,
“We have to look at it based on what we can do to make a difference“ on immigration and race issues. Khan never looked back on his donation.
In 2020 essays, he ripped Trump’s handling of racism but gave props to the economic boosts. It all showed his true colors: a guy who came from nothing in Pakistan, now putting fairness and his team first over easy politics.
That development reflects Khan’s status in the NFL. He is a billionaire who owns a team in deep-red Florida. Still, when Trump started talking too personally, as it does cause pain to the immigrants and the minorities, including people that he personally knows, it got personal.
Early encouragement soon became bitter, and he found himself alone in the wilderness unless he stood up. It also shielded his locker room against massive fan outrage. And his son Tony? He is grappling with the same tangle in wrestling with AEW, be it strikes or boycott threats over so-called woke stuff.
As the Khan’s post went viral, fans gave different reactions:
One fan said, “You have them bitching about ICE commercials during Dynamite. It’s like, “Get a fucking life.”
Another said, “Amazing 😆 🤣 😂.”
A fan chimed: “Says the guy who is making a big deal of a $1 million donation in one campaign vs. the connection of WWE/TKO and Trump.”
One seems unbothered: “Know I don’t bother.”
Other states: “No shit. They’re rich. Why are you acting like this is some mic drop? This is known. The big difference that you so conveniently left out is that the Khans/AEW/whatever don’t blatantly advertise what side of the fence they sit on.”
One thing is clear: apart from the game, the NFL has also gained momentum on the political stage. And the Trump-Khan saga is just one example.
