Trump hails defense from Tiger Woods, Jim Brown

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday praised two African-American athletes after they recently defended him.

Tiger Woods, a friend and sometime golf partner of Trump, called Sunday for respect for the office.

Asked how he’d respond to people who are intrigued by his “friendly relationship” with Trump, Woods told reporters: “He’s the president of the United States and you have to respect the office. And no matter who’s in the office, you may like, dislike personality or the politics, but we all must respect the office.” Trump tweeted Monday, “The Fake News Media worked hard to get Tiger Woods to say something that he didn’t want to say. Tiger wouldn’t play the game he is very smart.”

NFL great Jim Brown defended Trump after being asked if he is concerned with the message coming from the White House about NFL national anthem protests.

“I should be criticizing Trump on every level because he does certain things that call for criticism. But when I look at television and I see all of these announcers become experts and they’re pointing their fingers, and they’re not doing a doggone thing but pointing their fingers, I find myself really pulling for the president,” Brown said last week on “The JT The Brick Show” on Fox Sports Radio.

Brown acknowledged his comment “will make me very unpopular in the black community, very unpopular with a lot of Americans. But I think there are certain good things that are coming out of this presidency because we’ve never seen anything like it.”

Trump on Monday tweeted thanks to Brown “for your wonderful words and support.”