New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can't go a day during Super Bowl week without reporters asking him what he thinks about President Donald Trump .
The future Hall of Famer has been deflecting the political bait, saying he wants to focus on beating the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday night's championship game. The same goes for his teammates. When a reporter asked various players what they think about Trump's potential impact on the economy — as this reporter did — she was met with a smile and quick, "I defer." (Falcons players did answer the question: "He's a businessman so he probably knows what he's doing," said cornerback Deji Olatoye.)
It's different, however, for Brady's boss. Patriots owner Robert Kraft has known Trump for 20 years. He attended Trump's wedding to Melania. "Actually, Bill and Hillary were at the next table," Kraft told CNBC, "so it just shows you how things evolve, that you can never predict what's really going to happen."
Kraft said Trump's economic plans could have a positive effect across the socioeconomic spectrum. "We think the incoming administration's policies are very pro-business, which is exciting to us," he said. "I think what's happened over the last decade (is) working families and poor people, their situation has worsened."
Kraft said changes to regulatory and tax policies will create jobs and economic activity. "I personally hope it will bring great help and sort of be a catalyst to the inner cities to get better jobs there," he said.
When asked how Trump's trade and immigration policies might play out, Kraft said with a smile, "Well, I'm not as skilled as you might be in politics, but what I do believe is he is committed to put America first and do what's in America's best long-term interest."
Kraft said he holds Trump in high personal regard. Kraft said he was "really in rough shape" after his wife, Myra, died of cancer in 2011, and the Trumps came to his synagogue and visited him at his home. "He called me once a week, every week, to see how I was doing," Kraft said. "He was just a great friend at a difficult time. I'll never forget that for the rest of my life."
In addition to owning the Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, billionaire Kraft runs a diversified company that includes a paper and packaging business. "We have manufacturing facilities throughout America — the Carolinas, the Northeast, and California."