New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett said in a post-game press conference that he won’t join his team when it visits the White House in the traditional visit after winning a Super Bowl.
Bennett and the Patriots made history Sunday night when they came back from a 25-point deficit to win Super Bowl 51, beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the first overtime in the title game’s history.
Bennett told reporters that he will decline the invitation from President Donald Trump, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
Patriots TE Martellus Bennett said he will not go to the White House to honor Super Bowl win. Not worried about what his owner thinks.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) February 6, 2017
In an answer to a question, Bennett said, “I’m not going to go.”
Why?
“It is what it is,” Bennett said. “People know how I feel about it. Just follow me on Twitter.”
Here’s what he tweeted on Jan.30:
America was built on inclusiveness not exclusiveness.
— Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) January 30, 2017
Bennett said something similar, in answer to similar question last Monday, at the team’s media day, when he said “I don’t support the guy that’s in the house.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a longtime supporter of President Trump and early this football season, a Trump “Make America Great Again” hat was spotted in quarterback Tom Brady’s locker.
Sports’ championship teams are invited to the White House in a tradition that dates back to President Andrew Johnson in 1865. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first Super Bowl champion team to visit, at President Jimmy Carter’s invitation in 1980.
President Ronald Reagan made the practice an annual tradition.
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