Ever since that red “Make America Great Again” hat showed up in his locker, Tom Brady has received plenty of questions about his relationship with Donald Trump.
During Brady’s 20-year run as the quarterback of the New England Patriots, one that included six Super Bowl victories, the former TV reality star-turned President could be seen on the sidelines at Gillette Stadium from time to time, as a longtime supporter of the team.
In a recent interview with Variety, Brady set the record straight.
“This was 17 or 18 years ago,” Brady told Variety about playing golf with Trump. “I was so young. I got to go to a private golf course. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.”
When asked if the two are still in touch, Brady responded, “No. I haven’t talked to him in a lot of years.”
“I think [the press] just mischaracterized a lot,” the athlete added about the two appearing to be close friends. “And my personality isn’t ever one to insult anybody. I have plenty of my own flaws. I’m not here to point out anyone else’s flaws. There are things that I agree with. There are things that I don’t. There are things I agree with my wife about. There are things that I don’t. I love her to death, but we don’t always see eye to eye. I don’t see eye to eye with anyone. And I’m not responsible for what other people say. I’m really responsible for what I say. So if people want to say things that I said or that I’m about, that’s up to them, and I’m not going to respond to all those things all the time either.”
Brady has commented on his friendship with Trump multiple times over the years, referencing their golf outings and Trump’s support of the Patriots.
During an interview with WEEI back in 2015, Brady had this to say about his relationship with Trump:
“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.”
Brady recently returned from a brief retirement, and will play his 23rd NFL season this year, his third with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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