FIVE THINGS ABOUT TRUMP, ALI

1 THE NEWS

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he is thinking “very seriously” about pardoning the late Muhammad Ali, an act of clemency that the boxer’s lawyer says is unnecessary because the Supreme Court overturned the heavyweight champion’s conviction in 1971.

2 THE BACK STORY

Ali was born Cassius Clay, and changed his name after converting to Islam in the 1960s. He refused to serve in the Vietnam War because of his religious beliefs, declaring himself a conscientious objector. Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967. Ali’s legal fight ended in 1971 when the Supreme Court ruled in his favour. He regained the boxing title in 1974. Ali died in 2016.

3 WHAT HE SAID

Trump said he may seek the recommendations of pro football players and other athletes who have protested racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. “What I’m going to do is I’m going to (ask) all of those people to recommend to me ... people that they think were unfairly treated by the justice system.”

4 TRUMP AND PARDONS

Trump has been on a clemency kick, and said “We have 3,000 names. We’re looking at them.”

5 HIS FIRST PARDON

In his first use of the power, Trump spared a former Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio, the prospect of serving jail time after a conviction stemming from his use of immigration patrols that focused on Latinos.