Dan Friedkin's Donald Trump links revealed amid Everton takeover latest

Today at 12:15 PM

The world’s of politics and football are closely intertwined and in Dan Friedkin Everton will soon have a new owner who has nailed his colours to the mast in American politics.

Friedkin, 59, was born in San Diego, California but his main business interests are in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma in south of the United States.

All five of those States are traditional ‘red states’ that historically have voted for the Republican Party in presidential and congressional elections.

With the American economy and sports business ecosystem hugely related to our own, the outcome of the presidential election tonight will – both directly and indirectly – have an impact on football.

Everton know all too well the impact that the wider political context can have on a specific club.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 sparked a chain reaction that saw the Kazakh oligarch and Everton benefactor Alisher Usmanov sanctioned by the UK government and forced to cut ties with the club.

Usmanov did not have an equity stake in Everton but did have first refusal for the naming rights for the Bramley Moore Dock stadium worth £30m, as well as a number of other commercial contracts.

That decimated Everton’s sponsorship income almost overnight, with major repercussions via the points deductions and fines the Premier League hit them with for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Political events close to home have consequence for the Toffees too – a government-backed independent football regulator, for example, will soon be introduced to safeguard the interests of supporters.

It is interesting therefore to learn more about Friedkin’s political background and how events on the Atlantic will be received ahead of his takeover of Everton.

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Who is Dan Friedkin and what are his links to Donald Trump?

Interestingly, before Friedkin agreed terms with Farhad Moshiri, Donald Trump associate Kevin Malone had expressed interest in buying Everton.

That did not come to fruition, but Dan Friedkin also appears to lean in the same political direction despite the fact that has previously attacked one of the soon-to-be Everton owner’s most successful projects.

Famously, Friedkin is in the movie business and helped finance the South Korean language film ‘Parasite, which won a deluge of awards including Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020.

Then-president Trump was not impressed, saying: "How bad were the Academy Awards this year, did you see? 'And the winner is … a movie from South Korea,'

"What was that all about? We've got enough problems with South Korea with trade, on top of it they give them the best movie of the year?"

But a new report from CityAM citing public documentation however has now found that Friedkin has made several donations to Automotive Free International Trade PAC, a major Republican donor.

His interest in that particular lobby group stems from his ownership of Gulf States Toyota, the leading distributor Toyota vehicles in the American south who have been linked with an Everton sponsorship deal.

Friedkin’s personal feelings towards Trump are not known, but he has also been appointed by Republican governor Rick Perry to serve as chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Perry incidentally served in Trump’s administration as secretary of Energy between 2016 and 2019.

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When will the Everton takeover be complete?

Regardless of politics, Everton supporters will be desperate to see Friedkin’s takeover get over the line as soon as possible.

All parties are currently waiting for the resolution of a legal case involving Everton debtor and former takeover suitor 777 Partners, whose parent company A-Cap are being sued by London firm Leadenhall.

But it appears that all are confident that the case, which in no way involves Everton but has meant they have been prevented from settling the £200m they borrowed from 777, will have a positive outcome.

Friedkin will then need to get approval from the Premier League and the Financial Conduct Authority, which is not expected to be an issue.

Most forecasts that Friedkin could be in situ by January.

Speaking to TBR Football recently, Liverpool University football finance lecturer and industry insider Kieran Maguire suggested that Friedkin could even make a statement signing for Everton.