MLS · Portland · Rating: 3 / 9 · Not Aligned
Owner: Merritt Paulson
Alignment: Merritt Paulson owns the Timbers and the NWSL Portland Thorns. Paulson is the son of George W. Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson but operates in Portland, one of the most progressive cities in America. Following the women’s soccer abuse scandal, Paulson was pressured by activists and elected officials to sell the Thorns, illustrating the franchise’s deep entanglement with progressive accountability culture.
Summary
Merritt Paulson owns the Timbers and the NWSL Portland Thorns. Paulson is the son of George W. Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson but operates in Portland, one of the most progressive cities in America. Following the women’s soccer abuse scandal, Paulson was pressured by activists and elected officials to sell the Thorns, illustrating the franchise’s deep entanglement with progressive accountability culture.
Claims & Sources
Claim 1: Portland Timbers and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson came under public pressure to sell the clubs over abuse scandal handling
Sources: USA Today — Portland’s Merritt Paulson pressured to sell Timbers, Thorns
Claim 2: The Guardian database of US sports owners political donations details MLS owner giving including Paulson
Sources: The Guardian — US sports owners political donations database