Tom Brady Calls Donald Trump ‘a Good Friend of Mine’

On Tuesday, Tom Brady refused to forswear his friendship with Donald Trump, telling a Boston sports station that the presidential candidate remains his friend and he does not abandon his friends.

WEEI asked Brady if Trump’s recent comments would cause him to stop supporting Trump. Brady responded:

Can I just stay out of this debate? Donald is a good friend of mine. I have known him for a long time. I support all my friends. That is what I have to say. He’s a good friend of mine. He’s always been so supportive of me — for the last 15 years, since I judged a beauty pageant for him, which was one of the very first things that I did that I thought was really cool. That came along with winning the Super Bowl. He’s always invited me to play golf. I’ve always enjoyed his company.

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.

Trump unabashedly supported Brady following Deflategate. In July, commenting on the NFL’s four-game suspension handed out to Brady, Trump stated, “It’s shocking the way it’s been handled. It’s a disgrace. It’s as bad or worse than Ray Rice.” When Trump was asked about Roger Goodell’s accusation that Brady destroyed his cell phone, Trump responded, “The way it was released it sounds bad but when you hear Tom’s side, I don’t know. It’s a very different way of hearing it. I know him so well, he’s such a high quality guy.”

After Brady won his appeal against the NFL, Trump tweeted, “Congratulations to Tom Brady on yet another great victory- Tom is my friend and a total winner!”

In early September, appearing on Dennis and Callahan on Boston’s WEEI, Brady discussed a red “Make America Great Again” hat Trump had sent him, which he displayed in his locker. He noted, “He sent it to me via [Patriots owner Robert Kraft]. I’ve known [Trump] since 2002 where I judged one of his beauty pageants.” He added, Honestly he’s a great friend … spent a lot of time golfing together.”

The following week, Brady expressed excitement about a possible Trump win in 2016, enthusing, “That would be great. There’d be a putting green on the White House lawn. I’m sure of that.”