Former NFL Stars Jim Brown, Ray Lewis Meet With Donald Trump At Trump Tower

Two great retired NFL players, Jim Brown and Ray Lewis, entered Trump Tower on Tuesday to discuss issues affecting the black community in America with President-elect Donald Trump. 

Former NFL Stars Jim Brown, Ray Lewis Meet With Donald Trump At Trump Tower

“We couldn’t have had a better meeting,” the 80-year-old Brown gushed afterward. The graciousness, the intelligence, the reception we got was fantastic.”

Cleveland pastor Darrell Scott, who also attended the meeting, said they discussed Browns’ Amer-I-Can nonprofit group dedicated to improving the plight of troubled youth.

“We talked about marrying or merging the Amer-I-Can program with the Trump administration to make America great again,” said Scott, an fervent Trump supporter.

“Rather than going out and inventing a vehicle to enhance the African-American community we have a vehicle in place that we need the country to get behind so we can affect positive change in our communities.”

Scott, Brown, a former fullback for the Cleveland Browns who played from 1957-1965, and Lewis– a former Baltimore Ravens linebacker (1996-2012)– were met by one of Trump’s advisers, former reality TV star and “Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault, Tuesday morning. 

“Urban development and job creation are everything,” Lewis, 41, told reporters after his meeting. “What we believe with the Trump administration is if we can combine these two powers of coming together — forget black or white. Black or white is irrelevant. The bottom line is job creation and economic development in these urban areas to change the whole scheme of what our kids see.”

Lewis also works with Ameri-I-Can.

He and Brown have both been associated with controversy. Lewis was charged in the fatal stabbing of two people outside an Atlanta Super Bowl party in 2000. He also dodged a murder rap thanks to a plea deal in which he agreed to testify against the two other suspects.

Brown, a Hall of Famer, has been arrested several times for sexual abuse and assault.

On CNN, Brown lauded Trump for surviving a challenging presidential campaign and ultimately winning the election. “When he goes through what he went through to become the president, he got my admiration,” Brown told the network. “No one gave him a chance.”

The two NFL legends weren’t the only celebrities to meet with the President-elect on Tuesday, however.

Rapper Kanye West dominated headlines after he strolled into Trump Tower, and said he just wanted a picture with the President-elect. West, like Trump, has been known for making outlandish and controversial comments both verbally and on Twitter. Just days after the election last month, West publicly revealed that he did not vote, but that if he had, he would have voted for Trump.

Vogue editor Anne Wintour met with Trump for about 30 minutes and discussed several issues, according to an ABC News reporter.

Billionaire Bill Gates was also seen at Trump Tower. The Microsoft founder walked to the elevators without speaking to the press.

Gates did, however, give an interview to CNBC earlier Tuesday after speaking with Trump by phone about potential innovation ventures.

“Of course, my whole career has been along those lines, and he was interested in listening to that,” Gates said.

Gates also compared the President-elect to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

“In the same way President Kennedy talked about the space mission and got the country behind that,” Gates said. “There can be a very upbeat message that (Trump’s) administration (is) going to organize things, get rid of regulatory barriers, and have American leadership through innovation” in education, public health and energy.

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 13: (L to R) Former professional football player Jim Brown, former professional football player Ray Lewis, and Pastor Darrell Scott speak to reporters at Trump Tower, December 13, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)