New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft drew parallels between modern American society and 1930s Germany during an interview with DIE WELT ahead of his team’s NFL game in Munich.
Kraft, an 85-year-old American businessman whose net worth is estimated at $15.2 billion, has owned the NFL franchise for 32 years. He also owns the MLS team New England Revolution and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. DIE WELT reported that the executive expressed deep concern over rising antisemitism in the United States.
“I am really worried that today’s America is increasingly resembling the Germany of the 1930s,” Kraft told DIE WELT. “And I don’t want it to become the Germany of the 1940s.”
The discussion in DIE WELT covered both the franchise’s deep ties to German fans and Kraft’s philanthropic efforts against hate groups. The Patriots face the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Munich, returning to Germany three years after their previous appearance in the country.
Growing German NFL Support
Kraft said that the fanbase in Germany has expanded significantly during decades of team success. He pointed to shared values of hard work and discipline as reasons for the strong local following.
“At our last game here, I had the feeling we were at the Super Bowl,” Kraft told DIE WELT regarding the German supporters. “Our fans in Germany have always stood behind us, in good times and in bad times.”
The league has scheduled regular-season games in Munich for 2026 and 2028, alongside fixtures in Berlin for 2027 and 2029. Kraft indicated that the infrastructure and enthusiastic crowds provide a strong foundation for future international matchups.
The Blue Square Alliance Against Hate
Kraft detailed his philanthropic response to escalating extremism, referencing the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville and the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh as warnings. He established the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, now known as the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, and launched the “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign featuring the blue square symbol.
“Silence is the greatest ally of hate,” Kraft told DIE WELT. “That is why we are not silent.”
He said that Jewish houses of worship in the United States require armed security in 2026 to ensure congregants feel safe. Kraft also addressed political shifts in Berlin following recent local elections, emphasizing that antisemitism must be actively opposed regardless of political developments.
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