NFL legend Tom Brady publicly praised billionaire doctor and Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong on Monday, November 17, 2025, commending his cancer research efforts and declaring his intention to watch a NewsNation interview about a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
Brady, 48, responded to a NewsNation post on X promoting an interview between Chris Cuomo and Soon-Shiong, which aired the following week, Tuesday, November 25. The interview preview suggested Soon-Shiong has discovered a method to “kill cancer” that federal authorities deemed insignificant. Brady called the work “incredible” and expressed gratitude for Soon-Shiong’s efforts to tackle major health challenges.
“I’ll be watching. This is incredible work that needs more attention,” Brady wrote. “We need more minds like this attacking our world’s biggest problems. Thank you for what you’re doing.”
The specific treatment discussed in the upcoming interview remained unclear at the time of Brady’s comments, though Soon-Shiong has an established history in cancer research and treatment development. In 1995, he invented Abraxane, an FDA-approved chemotherapy drug designed to treat advanced pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The medication represents one of several contributions Soon-Shiong has made to oncology over his career as a medical doctor, researcher, and entrepreneur.
In a brief clip from the interview, Cuomo asked Soon-Shiong about the federal government’s awareness of his research. “So you’re telling me the federal government is aware, but dismisses what you believe is the most important thing to be focused on?” Cuomo says in the preview.
Soon-Shiong responded by describing the nature of his work, explaining his focus on unlocking previously unexplored cellular mechanisms.
The exchange between Brady and Soon-Shiong highlights a connection between two prominent figures in Trump’s orbit. Soon-Shiong, who purchased the Los Angeles Times in 2018, has become a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump and previously sought a position as Trump’s health care czar during his first administration. His political leanings have influenced his management of the newspaper, particularly through editorial decisions that sparked controversy among staff and readers.
Most notably, Soon-Shiong vetoed a planned endorsement of former vice president Kamala Harris from the Los Angeles Times editorial board during the previous election cycle. This decision represented a significant departure from the newspaper’s traditional editorial independence and drew criticism from journalism advocates who viewed it as owner interference in editorial matters. The Pulitzer Prize-winning publication has since seen shifts in its opinion pages, including the addition of conservative commentator Scott Jennings to the editorial board.
Soon-Shiong has also considered expanding his media influence beyond the Times, having considered adding right-wing commentator Candace Owens to a separate media venture. These moves reflect his efforts to appeal to more conservative-leaning audiences and align his media properties with his political affiliations.
Brady’s relationship with Trump dates back years, though the quarterback has described it as mischaracterized by media coverage. In 2015, Brady called Trump a “good friend” during an interview and referred to a “Make America Great Again” hat found in his locker as a “nice keepsake.” The comments effectively served as an informal endorsement of Trump ahead of his first presidential term.
Brady later sought to clarify the nature of their relationship, stating it had been “mischaracterized a lot” and noting he had not talked to Trump in years. Despite this claim, the two shared a suite during a FIFA match in July, demonstrating an ongoing connection between the quarterback and the president.
Brady’s public endorsement of Soon-Shiong’s work adds another dimension to the overlapping networks of influence surrounding Trump’s administration. As a billionaire entrepreneur with interests spanning medicine, technology, and media, Soon-Shiong represents the type of multifaceted figure who has gained prominence in Trump’s circle. His positioning at the intersection of healthcare innovation, media ownership, and political advocacy makes him a particularly influential voice in conservative circles.
The NewsNation special “Killing Cancer: The Power Within,” which aired on November 25, featured an hour-long conversation between Chris Cuomo and Dr. Soon-Shiong, along with patients who say his treatments were a turning point for their illness. The special explored Anktiva, an immunotherapy treatment that activates the body’s natural killer cells rather than relying on chemotherapy. Soon-Shiong reported that nearly 1,000 patients have been treated successfully with Anktiva, many after standard treatments failed, with patients showing results including bladder cancer patients alive 10 years later, metastatic pancreatic cancer patients surviving six years, and complete remissions across multiple cancer types.
Other doctors featured in the special expressed enthusiasm for Soon-Shiong’s breakthrough, with Dr. Steven Finkelstein, national director of radiation oncology with U.S. Urology Partners, noting that the cancer research field is desperate for change. Currently, Anktiva has only been approved by the FDA for one specific type of bladder cancer, and the drug continues to face regulatory hurdles that prevent expanded access. Soon-Shiong continues to lobby the Trump administration to support expanding Anktiva’s use for other types of cancer. Cancer research typically undergoes rigorous peer review and clinical trials before treatments gain widespread acceptance in the medical community, though pioneering researchers sometimes face initial skepticism before their work gains recognition.
