Looking for someone to blame for Donald Trump’s winning White House bid? How about the Buffalo Bills.
You may recall that back in 2014 Trump was interested in buying the flailing NFL franchise when it was put up for sale.
Like many disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters this week, there was talk of the Bills moving north of the border to Toronto, Canada, and even New Jersey-born rock star Jon Bon Jovi pledged interest in the team.
Trump was also keen to become an NFL owner, Fox Sports reminded us on Thursday, but wasn’t prepared to pay the asking price.
“I know so many people in Buffalo,” Trump told the city’s WBEN-FM at the time, “and they have asked me about looking at that, and I certainly would look at it.”
Just as he is now promising to “Make America Great Again,” back then Trump pledged to keep the Bills in Buffalo.
“I live in New York and it’s easier for me to go to Buffalo than any other place,” he said.
The real estate mogul reportedly submitted a bid of $1 billion in cash, but was beaten out by a $1.4 billion cash bid from Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, Fox Sports reported.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/521664598168977408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
But the kicker is that Trump told Sports Illustrated in September 2015 that if he’d landed in the Bills’ front office then he wouldn’t be running for president.
“I’m glad [I lost], because if I bought the Buffalo Bills, I probably would not be [running for president], which is much more important,” he said.
“I would have done a good job with the team, but I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now. So you understand. Now, that’s today. I’m No. 1 in the polls. Ask me that question in two months; who knows, right?” For the record, that was said 14 months before he won the presidential election.
However, just earlier this week, Trump was boasting about how he had the support of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick — who are the Buffalo Bills’ biggest rivals in the AFC East.
“This guy is a champ and a winner and he is a great person,” Trump said of Brady, who helped the Pats beat the Bills 41-25 two weeks ago.
So, Donald, are you a Pats fan or a Bills fan?