Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick disclosed on Wednesday that Van Jones, a CNN analyst and former Obama administration adviser, tried to arrange a meeting between him and President Donald Trump. The revelation came during an appearance on the MediasTouch podcast, where host Ben Meiselas questioned Kaepernick about a “Black Summit” invitation extended during Trump’s first term.
Kaepernick described the outreach as part of a broader pattern of attempts to co-opt activists working for social justice. “What I’ve learned over the years is there is going to be a constant attempt to be able to co-opt people who are trying to work for the benefit of the people,” he said. “What was relayed to me was the outreach came from Van Jones for this.”
He made clear that the offer was dismissed without hesitation. “I don’t know the details around it because, candidly, as soon as it came up as, ‘Hey, here is the opportunity,’ it was immediately rejected,” Kaepernick continued.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has been a lightning rod for political controversy since he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice. Trump repeatedly criticized him, saying at the time, “But I will tell you — you cannot disrespect our country, our flag, our anthem, you cannot do that.” Trump also voiced support for the NFL suspending Kaepernick indefinitely over his protest.
Kaepernick interpreted the summit invitation in light of those attacks. He called it “a facade that he’s working for Black people or trying to be in the benefit of Black people,” adding, “history shows otherwise.” He noted that Trump had “gone out publicly and tried to target me in my employment.”
The quarterback also drew a connection between Trump and the Reform Alliance, an organization Jones formerly led as CEO. “Ultimately, what we see is on the other side of that, you know, pardons being handed out, and we’re seeing those pay-for-play right now,” he said, suggesting a transactional nature to such engagements.
Kaepernick has been out of the NFL since March 2017, when he opted out of his 49ers contract, though he has not officially retired. He filed a grievance accusing NFL owners of colluding to keep him off the field, naming Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence as part of a “colluding force.” The case was reportedly settled in 2019 for less than $10 million.
In a twist, Trump later said he would “love” to see Kaepernick return to the league, suggesting owners would sign him “if he was good enough.” But Kaepernick’s latest comments indicate he remains deeply skeptical of any overtures from the president or his allies. The episode underscores the enduring friction between the two figures, with Kaepernick’s activism still resonating in the political landscape. As Trump continues to court Black voters, his past clashes with Kaepernick could complicate those efforts, especially amid ongoing debates over racial justice and criminal justice reform.
