ROXBURY, MA - 08/22/2025: Robert Kraft endorses his son Josh Kraft for Mayor of Boston following a moderated panel discussion on prison reform hosted by the candidate at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Aug. 22, 2025. (Taylor Coester for The Boston Globe)
ROXBURY, MA - 08/22/2025: Robert Kraft endorses his son Josh Kraft for Mayor of Boston following a moderated panel discussion on prison reform hosted by the candidate at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Aug. 22, 2025. (Taylor Coester for The Boston Globe)Taylor Coester for The Boston Globe
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, spoke Friday evening on a criminal justice reform panel hosted by his son, Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft.
Ex-US Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins moderated the hour-long discussion at Roxbury Community College that featured rapper Meek Mill, who co-founded the REFORM Alliance with the Patriots owner, and others.
Panelists talk about prison reform during a moderated discussion hosted by Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Friday.
Panelists talk about prison reform during a moderated discussion hosted by Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Friday.Taylor Coester for The Boston Globe
Josh Kraft did not share the stage with his father and other panelists during the criminal justice reform discussion on Friday evening, instead Robert spoke directly to the audience after the panel’s conclusion.
Robert Kraft said his son’s integrity and passion for Boston speak louder than any “false narratives.”
He urged attendees at the Roxbury Community College auditorium to view Josh as his own person, separate from his family affiliations.
“During this race, some have tried to tie Josh to notions of entitlement or to affiliations that they perceive to be negative.” Robert Kraft said. “I hope that the voters of the city of Boston will judge him on his track record, his merits, and not on those false narratives that others have tried to push,” Robert said.
Since the start of his campaign, Kraft has sought to set himself apart from his family’s privileged background, noting that he did not work for the family business as his older brothers did.
But when speaking to reporters after the panel, Josh said he wanted his father present on Friday evening to share the lessons he and his late mother taught him about community.
A sentiment that was shared during Josh’s end of the night address when he said, “My father taught me early that our family’s success doesn’t mean much if we’re not using it to lift up other people.”
During the panel, Robert discussed his friendship with Mill, who at 19 was convicted on gun and drug charges in Pennsylvania. The charges were later reduced to a single misdemeanor gun charge, NPR reported.
Kraft and Mill teamed up with other, including rapper Jay-Z to create the REFORM Alliance to advocate for national prison reform.
Robert Kraft (l) and Meek Mill, who helpe found the REFORM Alliance speak during a moderated panel discussion on prison reform hosted by Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Friday night.
Robert Kraft (l) and Meek Mill, who helpe found the REFORM Alliance speak during a moderated panel discussion on prison reform hosted by Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft at the Roxbury Community College Auditorium on Friday night.Taylor Coester for The Boston Gl
Mill and additional panelists, Mac Hudson and Donasia Fountain, shared personal stories on their experiences with criminal justice, and why they’re advocating for policy changes regarding probation terms, and improving conditions for those incarcerated.
“Prison is a place that everyone experiences oppression, but black and brown folks experience it at a higher velocity than anyone,” Hudson said.
Robert shared his support for reform, encouraging audience members to also step up and make changes.
The elder Kraft’s appearance at the panel marks a rare occasion he’s been present with Josh Kraft at a public event since he launced his mayoral campaign.
One reason Josh Kraft has tried to distinguish himself from his father: politics. Robert Kraft has at times been a close friend and supporter to Donald Trump. Josh Kraft is slamming Trump as he seeks election in a city that largely loathes the president.
When asked by the Globe if his father’s politics have affected him on the campaign trail, Josh said that while the two disagree on Donald Trump, he still carries love and respect for his father.
“My dad has done a lot of great work, and I’d be lucky to make as much of an impact for the rest of my life,” Josh said
Even as he sets himself apart from his family, Kraft has benefitted from his relatives’ wealthy network.
He has received thousands of dollars in donations from employees at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, & Garrison LLP, a major New York law firm that recently reached a settlement deal with Trump — a negotiation that Robert Kraft reportedly brokered. Josh Kraft has received campaign donations from other associates of his father, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Speaking to reporters, Josh said that false narratives “don’t mean anything” to him.
“What means something to me? Our policies and our vision to make life better for every single resident in the city of Boston,” he said.
Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft speaks following a moderated panel discussion on prison reform that he hosted at the Roxbury Community College Friday.
Boston mayoral candidate Josh Kraft speaks following a moderated panel discussion on prison reform that he hosted at the Roxbury Community College Friday.Taylor Coester for The Boston Globe
Camille Bugayong can be reached at camille.bugayong@globe.com. Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her @emmaplatoff.