Patriots have a fan in the White House: President Trump rooting for team in Super Bowl

Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald on Jan 29, 2026

Published in Football

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BOSTON — Remove politics, President Trump is sounding like a typical New Englander by the day, saying Patriots QB Drake Maye impresses him and that it’s “ridiculous” that Bill Belichick got snubbed for a first-ballot Hall of Fame induction.

Trump has said he won’t travel to Santa Clara, Calif., for the Super Bowl because “it’s just too far away” from the White House, according to reports, but the president has made it clear that his allegiance lies with the Patriots and their owner, Robert Kraft.

“Bob Kraft is a friend of mine, and I’ve watched that team, and you’ve got to hand it to him,” Trump said. “He had the great team. Now he’s got the great team again. … I hope it’s going to be a tremendous game.”

Trump commented that he’s siding with the Patriots over the Seahawks during a Tuesday interview on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.” The president even tossed recognition to New England’s front office for selecting Maye with the third pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

“They made a fantastic draft pick, the quarterback is great,” Trump added.

Later Tuesday, reports emerged that Belichick would have to wait a bit longer to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Belichick did not receive the 40 out of 50 votes required for a first-ballot induction, four sources told Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham of ESPN.

The development has shocked the sports world, surprising Kraft and former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Trump also sounded off after hearing the news, in a post on his Truth Social account.

“It is the same mindset that gave pro football the new and unwatchable ‘Sissy’ Kickoff Rule, that made it possible for Bill Belichick to not be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Trump wrote on Wednesday. “Both are ridiculous and should be overturned!”

Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach and two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant. He served as head coach and general manager of the Patriots from 2000 to 2023, when Kraft fired him after a disastrous 4-13 season.

During Belichick’s last year with the organization, Trump said that he was confident the head coach would turn things around. “They’re having a bit of a hard time. What’s going on with the Patriots, huh? …. He’ll figure it out somehow.”