Donald Trump opened up about his bid to become an NFL owner when he made a bid for the Buffalo Bills in 2014.
The Republican presidential hopeful offered $1 billion in cash for the bills a decade ago, after the death of the founder and owner of the Hall of Fame Ralph Wilson.
Trump was one of three known finalists in the battle to take over Buffalo. A group led by rock star Jon Bon Jovi also showed interest in purchasing the equipment.
In the end, however, the owners of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabers, Terry and Kim Pegula, won the bid with a bid of $1.4 billion.
Ten years later, Trump finds himself in the campaign trial as he contemplates a return to the White House in next month’s election against Kamala Harris.
Donald Trump opens up about his attempt to buy the Buffalo Bills in 2014
Terry and Kim Pegula, parents of tennis star Jess Pegula, won the bid with a bid of $1.4 billion.
The 78-year-old appeared on the popular YouTube show ‘Bussin’ with the boys‘ and described his failed move towards football.
Asked how close he came to closing the deal, Trump said: “Not close.” The owner who got it is a very good man. I think he’s done a great job. Well, he made a great choice: He chose a great quarterback in Josh (Allen).’
The Republican candidate added: ‘I offer a billion dollars and present a letter of credit. I thought I could get it because I was in Buffalo, which was having some problems… and (Pegula) bid $1.4 billion, so it’s $400 million more.
“I don’t think it was a very serious race, but I gave them a billion-dollar guarantee, so that’s always serious, right?”
“He made a great pick, he picked a great quarterback in Josh (Allen),” Trump said of Pegula.
Trump paid tribute to Terry Pegula, father of tennis star Jess Pegula, for his accomplishments with the Bills, including selecting Josh Allen in the 2018 draft after other teams passed over the quarterback.
Allen was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick until a series of offensive posts from his past resurfaced on social media. However, the Bills selected the quarterback with the seventh overall pick.
‘He’s a very nice guy. I think she’s fantastic,” Trump said of Pegula. “I think she’s done a great job with that team.”
The 78-year-old added of Allen: “He’s an exciting quarterback but he’s great…the Bills picked him up and (Pegula) took him on a one-day apology tour and he ends up with one of the best quarterbacks.” “. .’