The Super Bowl champions traditionally visit the White House every year, but not every member of the New England Patriots will travel with the team when the time comes in 2017. The numbers of players who’ve said they won’t go to Washington D.C. to meet President Donald Trump continues to grow.
Tight end Martellus Bennett became the first player to say he wouldn’t go to the White House, telling reporters how he felt shortly after the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night in Houston. The news probably didn’t come as a surprise to many, considering Bennett has been outspoken against Trump on social media.
Then it was safety Devin McCourty, who told Time magazine that he planned on skipping the trip. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower also said he wouldn’t go to the White House, telling ESPN he’s “been there, done that,” having already gone to meet former President Barack Obama when he won a national championship with Alabama. Hightower also declined to visit the White House after the Patriots won the 2015 Super Bowl.
Unlike Hightower, McCourty made it clear that he didn’t want to meet Trump because of his politics.
Chris Long, pictured during Super Bowl LI Opening Night at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Jan. 30, 2017, said he plans on skipping the New England Patriots’ visit to the White House. Photo: Reuters/Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“Basic reason for me is I don’t feel accepted in the White House,” McCourty said. “With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices, I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won’t.”
Defensive end Chris Long became the fourth Patriot to announce he intended to skip his White House visit Thursday morning. Long said he made the decision on his own and wasn’t influenced by his teammates.
“Planned on skipping, hadn’t been asked,” Long said on Twitter. “Not *joining* anyone. My call.”
It looks like New England will be showing up shorthanded to the White House, whenever that trip might take place, even though they are connected to the president, more so than any other championship team in recent memory.
A “Make America Great Again” hat was spotted in Tom Brady’s locker in September 2015, and he has since called Trump a “friend.” Bill Belichick and Trump have been friends for years, and Trump shared a letter that was written to him by Belichick shortly before he won the election.
Skipping the team’s trip to the White House would be nothing new for Patriots’ players. Brady didn’t meet with Obama in 2015, though the team said it was because the quarterback had a “family commitment.”
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