Patriots owner Kraft joins NFL chorus protesting Trump tirade

New England Patriots owner and philanthropist Robert Kraft on Sunday expressed “deep disappointment” at US President Donald Trump’s ongoing feud with football players and other professional athletes.

Trump on Friday angrily denounced NFL players who refused to stand during the national anthem during games in protest over racial injustice and police violence, using profanity to demand that teams fire the athletes.

The president’s tirade over the weekend drew swift condemnation from league executives and star players alike.

Kraft, who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration celebrations and is considered a friend of the president, on Sunday joined in the denunciation, saying he was “proud” of his players.

“I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the President on Friday,” he said in a statement. “Their efforts, both on and off the field, help bring people together and make our community stronger.”

Kraft said he was “proud to be associated with so many players who make such tremendous contributions in positively impacting our communities.”

“I support their right to peacefully affect [sic] social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful,” he said.

The spat began on Friday at a Republican rally in Alabama when Trump attacked activist National Football League players — mostly African Americans — as “sons of bitches” for kneeling or sitting during renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

With the NFL kicking off its Sunday lineup early with a game in London, some two dozen players from the Ravens and Jaguars took a knee during the playing of the national anthem before the start of the teams’ game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Players on both teams and Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who were not kneeling, remained locked arm-in-arm throughout the playing of the national anthem and “God Save The Queen,” the national anthem of Britain.

Dozens of other players are expected to repeat the demonstration as games begin in the US later Sunday in protest against Trump’s statements.

Trump has also drawn the ire of basketball players after hitting out at Stephen Curry, the top player for California’s Golden State Warriors, for saying he would not attend a traditional White House reception honoring the winning basketball team.

Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

…our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

“Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” he wrote.

Trump’s outburst drew a stinging response from across the NBA, with Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James among the first to weigh in.

“U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going!” James wrote on Twitter. “So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up.”

The protests by football players began last year when quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers refused to stand for the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017

Several more players have since joined in, nearly all of them black.

Kaepernick, who was unable to land a job with a team this season, has attracted support from his peers but also some backlash.

The 29-year-old said he started his protests because he wanted to spark a nationwide debate on racial injustice and police brutality.