I totally forgot/blanked on the fact that the “Patriots getting invited to the Trump White House” was such a big story in 2017. Russian asset Donald Trump had just risen to power and he was a bigly fan of the New England Patriots. They won the Super Bowl that year, and their win set off months of back-and-forth reporting about which players would skip out on the invitation to the Trump All-White House. Tom Brady – who kept a MAGA hat in his locker in 2016 – made some noise about how he didn’t understand why anyone would have a problem with him cozying up to a white supremacist, but in the end, Brady didn’t even go to the White House. Then again, he didn’t go when President Obama was in office either. Trump looked bigly upset that Brady didn’t come to the WH too. Well, cue another two months of speculation, probably. Less than 24 hours after the Patriots’ Super Bowl win, a Patriot has already come out and said he has no desire to visit the Trump White House.
New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon — one of the key players in the Super Bowl — says he will NOT be joining the team to visit Donald Trump … explaining, “They don’t want me in the White House.” Harmon was a STUD on Sunday night — stepping in when Patrick Chung went down with an injury and making two of the biggest plays of the game. First, he broke up what would have been a TD pass to L.A. Rams WR Brandin Cooks in the 4th quarter — and later on in the game, he was the guy who forced Jared Goff to throw that final interception.
After the game, we saw Harmon leaving Mercedes-Benz Stadium with his son — and they were TURNED UP!! Duron had big celebration plans — he was looking forward to hanging out with Snoop, Cardi B and Meek Mill — but he ain’t making the trip to Washington D.C. Harmon said “it would be dope” to follow the lead of the Golden State Warriors and visit Barack Obama instead.
You know what I appreciate? I appreciate that the NBA has led the way for “sports teams snubbing the Trump White House.” Between LeBron James and the entirety of the Golden State Warriors organization, they’ve given political cover to any team or athlete to snub Trump. Even college teams have refused to go to the Trump White House in the past two years. Anyway, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Patriots do get invited, and it wouldn’t surprise me if most of the players avoid the trip, Tom Brady included. I mean, how many cold McDonald’s cheeseburgers can Gronk really eat?
Photos courtesy of Getty.
About half the team skipped the trip two years ago. I don’t see Donta Hightower or Patrick Chung going now. Devin McCourty would only go for the experience of giving Jason his own visit to the White House, if Jason wants to skip, Devin will do, as he did two years ago. Brady didn’t “keep” a hat in his locker. A case of the stupid hats were delivered to the locker room and put in everyone’s locker. All of them, including the one in Brady’s locker, were gone the next day.
Do you have a source for the comment that they were put in everyone’s locker? I don’t recall seeing photos of the hat in anyone else’s locker. I’ve been a Pats fan my entire life, live here, and listen to Boston sports radio daily and never heard that. Plus after the hat incident, Tom came out and said he and the Cheeto were longtime friends and he always supports his friends.
Anyway, I hope they all, as a team, decide not to go and it’s just Bill, Tom and Bob there with their buddy. Tom was such a coward last time for not going to support his huge longtime friend!! He may be a GOAT on the field but between his maga love and his stupid comments about his brain being wired to take hits and stuff he’s an idiot off the field IMO.
I don’t remember. It was covered locally at the time by the local papers and news stations. Those hats were everywhere in that locker room and it was explained that Trump had sent one for every player on the team. LaGarrette Blount made jokes about them. But, as always, the other players get ignored. None of them, not even Brady, were ever seen wearing the things.
“I mean it’s pretty amazing what he’s been able to accomplish,” Brady said, via TIME Magazine. “He obviously appeals to a lot of people, and he’s a hell of a lot of fun to play golf with.”
Is that Fake News, too?
yeah, that “hell of a lot of fun” description bothered me, too.
like, other folks who have golfed with him (who don’t like him) have said that he’s vulgar, lewd, bigoted, talks sh*t about everybody and that he cheats shamelessly.
THAT is what Brady considers not just “fun” but a “hell of a lot of fun”?!
You mean you dont want go eat cheeseburgers with Trump?
Nah, I bet for them and Brady he rolls out the red carpet. Steaks and shrimp all around.
Oh absolutely. Because he can’t blame the Dems – let’s be honest, he used the Clemson visit as a photo op. “Nancy and Chuck are being so unreasonable so this is all we could do!”
Even if the gov’t is shut down Trump will have his hotel cater the event.
Re; Tom Brady – Whether he had the hat by choice or not – he is one of the most famous and beloved players in the NFL and as far as I know has done and said NOTHING to indicate that he a) doesnt support Trump and b) Supports Kaep in ANY way. Correct me if I’m wrong about this.
Not good enough, sorry.
He doesn’t make political comments except to say he doesn’t make political comments. He has said that he supports whatever protests his teammates choose to make and a year ago, when they chose to make a protest in support of Kaep, front row kneeling, second row standing behind with arms linked, he was there with his arms linked with his teammates. He could have chosen to stay in the locker room.
The guy has spent 19 years trying to avoid making political statements. Trump is not the first who tried to use him Bush, Kerry, and Romney all tried too.
@Lightpurple I respect your opinion, and I imagine you’re a big fan (as apparently is 90% of my timeline?), but for me, ‘he doesnt make pilitical statements’ is just not good enough. We can’t compare the current climate or idiot in chief to Bush/Kerry or Romney. For me, if someone isn’t using their (insanely enormous) platform to offer support, or at least clearly separate yourself from white supremacist supporters, then that’s a problem. I don’t care how far he can throw the ball, or how pretty he is while he does it – his silence on these issues is no good. For me, ‘He doesn’t make political statements’ is just not good enough, and frankly, speaks to his privilege that he can afford to choose to be silent.
And this doesn’t just apply to him. It applies to anyone in position of power and influence who chooses to remain silent in these times.
@Clare – I agree 100%. For me it’s made even worse because he has black nieces!!! So it’s like he cares more about trying to appear “neutral” politically than his own family.
he did not explicitly endorse 45 for prez.
what he said was that it would be “great” if 45 were elected, and that he considers 45 to be a “good friend” of his. not exactly separating himself. though I doubt he even voted in 2016, he made his allegiance clear. as for the infamous hat, he may have tossed it, but he made sure it was front and center and visible when he was interviewed before it was removed. and likely only done so because he got SO MUCH sh*t for it.
“For me, ‘He doesn’t make political statements’ is just not good enough, and frankly, speaks to his privilege that he can afford to choose to be silent. ”
and that’s it exactly. He “doesn’t follow politics” and doesn’t think about it too much (his words) because he doesn’t have to; his rich white privilege is on full display. “doesn’t affect me, why should I care” is too prevalent these days in our society.
Someone who is focused on not making political statements would have taken the hat out of his locker before cameras showed up. Please. Tom Brady has a pretty strong hold on his image and he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Do people not have the choice to keep their political opinions to themselves anymore?
Ellie – they do. But when they are closely associated with a white supremicist dickbag, who has tried to trade on their popularity/friendship (with or without consent re the hats, but Brady has himself referred to cheeto as a good friend or whatever) then I personally think it’s one’s responsibility to clearly separate oneself from that – even if that means ‘being political’.
And frankly, anyone who has the kind of power and platform that Brady does, and makes the choice to not use that platform in a positive way is a coward and a twat IMO. It’s not ok to basically look the other way when little kids are being put in cages and numbers of hate crimes are rising. I’m sorry for the people to whom this man is a hero, because I think he and his refusal to ‘be political’ suck.
That photo of 45 surrounded by fast food and the portrait of Lincoln overlooking him, makes me laugh
The owner of the Patriots is one of Trumps best buddies and said trumpy is doing a great job Sunday night.
The last time the Patriots turned up at the White House it was with an unsigned ball compared to the signatures covered ball presented to Obama.
Brady is a trump supporter, if he turns up at the White House Giselle will be out of the Country.
I don’t understand why any football player would go. Thing 45 did call them son of bi*****, right?
He only called the black football players that. And, I suppose, the white players who kneeled in solidarity…but I doubt that’s who Cheeto has in mind when he called them sons of bit@hes.
But, yeah, I hope no players go because they have other engagements that day…and then they are all seen lounging by a pool or taking out the trash or something.
Kraft is a wealthy 1%er who does not tip service industry workers. He and the Donald stiff workers on a regular basis and are cut from the same cloth. Charities are tax write offs for these wealthy men, not altruism.
He’s going to miss out on all the hamberders and McNuggets then.
Good for him. I love that he’s just like “hard pass, but can I hang out with Barack?”
One of small reasons I’m so glad that Chris Long won Man of the Year is because he was one of the first Eagles to say that he had no interest in going to the WH after last year’s win. He’s an amazing guy and has done so much good both here in Philly and and in other cities/countries, but I enjoy that tiny, petty fact.
Yes and Chris Long was openly supportive of the kneeling and in knowing (and talking about) that his experience as a white man is completely different than that of his black teammates. I was actually pretty shocked at how progressive he seemed because I remember his dad being a dick back when he played.
yup, even this Giants fan has respect for Chris Long. Good on him.
Chris didn’t go when he was on the Patriots either.
I wouldn’t want to see Trump either. I’d be afraid that I couldn’t hold my tongue, and I’d end up telling him off.
Whoever wrote that for TMZ….your racism is showing.
Right?! The way that article is written is gross. Not that I’d expect more from them but…wow.
Ugh that’s what I thought too
Devin and Jason McCourty just announced they aren’t going either.
He would be welcomed. We know it’s all about status for Trump. The fact is he won’t allow himself to be used as a prop for Trump’s nonsense. Get in touch with Obama’s people and join him for a publicized outing benefiting the community.
My favorite super bowl tweet was the one saying both teams were playing like they didn’t want to go to the White House. Lol
God, my petty soul just loves this blowback on that loser.