Tom Brady Voting Donald Trump? Patriots QB Isn’t Saying Yet, But Trump Claims He Did
Is Tom Brady voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections? When Brady made a radio appearance on Monday morning, the New England Patriots quarterback was decidedly noncommittal, saying that he’s yet to make his vote. But the Republican nominee went out and claimed later on that night that Brady has, in fact, voted Trump, and that his coach Bill Belichick is very supportive as well of the Republican campaign.
In an appearance Monday morning on the Kirk & Callahan show, the hosts asked Brady if he had beaten Friday’s early voting deadline, like about 25 percent of Massachusetts voters. Playing his cards close to his chest, Brady said that he had yet to make his vote, but would do so “today, or tomorrow.” That, according to ABC News, was an interesting comment, as early voting had already ended, and that the deadline for absentee ballot application was noontime on Monday.
Thanks New Hampshire!!! #NH #NewHampshire #MAGA pic.twitter.com/JDgcyJvJpk
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 8, 2016
Speculation that Tom Brady had voted for Donald Trump had ramped up that same evening, the ABC News report added. At Monday night’s rally in New Hampshire, Trump had referred to the 39-year-old quarterback as a “great guy” and as “great friend” of his, while touting his achievements on the football field. Trump also made the explicit claim that Brady had made his vote, and told him just as much in a phone call earlier in the day.
“Tom Brady, great guy, great friend of mine, great, great champion, unbelievable winner. He called today and he said, ‘Donald, I support you, you’re my friend, and I voted for you.'”
Trump also read from a letter reportedly sent by New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who offered his unabashed support to the Republican candidate. A report from GQ quotes that letter in full, adding that Belichick “sounds (remarkably) like Donald Trump” in making his endorsement.
“Congratulations on a tremendous campaign. You have dealt with an unbelievably slanted and negative media and have come out beautifully. Beautiful. You proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter. Your leadership is amazing. I have always had tremendous respect for you, but the toughness and perseverance you have displayed over the past year is remarkable.”
If Tom Brady votes Donald Trump for president, it might not be a surprise, as he had previously “made supportive comments” praising Trump’s campaign. One example comes from a Washington Post report from last month, which cited a statement Brady made in December 2015 expressing his admiration for Trump’s achievements in the fields of business and reality television, and his transition to the political arena.
“I support all my friends in everything they do. I think it’s pretty remarkable what he’s achieved in his life. You’re going from business, kind of an incredible businessman and then a TV star, and then getting into politics. It’s a pretty different career path. I think that is pretty remarkable.”
That report also dealt with how Brady has tended to dance around issues relating to the myriad controversies Trump has faced in the run-up to the elections. Last month, Brady walked out of a press conference after reporters asked him how he’d feel if his children heard Trump’s “locker room talk” — disrespectful, sexually-charged comments allegedly made by the Republican presidential candidate in a leaked hot-mic video.
Is Brady trying to play it coy and keeping his political preferences low-profile ahead of today’s elections? Or is he right when he says he really hadn’t made his vote yet as of Monday morning? So far, there hasn’t been any further clarification from Tom Brady on the claims that he indeed voted for Donald Trump. NBC Sports added that Belichick hasn’t spoken publicly either to confirm the veracity of his letter, but hinted that the Patriots coach probably “didn’t intend” for the letter to be made public.
[Featured Image by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images]
