During a rally in New Hampshire Monday night, Donald Trump announced that he received the supportof two beloved New Englanders: Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. “Tom Brady, great guy, great guy. Great guy, great friend of mine—great, great champion. Unbelievable winner,” Trump said in Manchester. “He called today and he said, ‘Donald, I support you, you’re my friend, and I voted for you.’” Trump drew wild cheers at the mention of Brady’s name, and more when he said he was handed a letter in his plane from Belichick, which read:
“Congratulations on a tremendous campaign. You have dealt with an unbelievable slanted and negative media, and have come out beautifully—beautifully. You’ve 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. Hopefully tomorrow’s election results will give the opportunity to make America great again. Best wishes for great results tomorrow.” Many took to Twitter after news broke about the letter, with one person saying they smelled “an orange-maned rat” behind the letter. Another said the letter was “in Trump’s own rambling speaking style.” CSN New Englandand WBZ TV’s Steve Burton confirmed that Belichick did write the letter, while Dave Zirin of The Nation reported that he did not, however, anticipate it would be read out loud. There also seemed to be a few holes in Trump’s assertion of Brady’s support.
Brady on Monday told “The Kirk & Callahan Show” that he didn’t take advantage of Massachusetts early voting, which ended Friday, and was going to cast his ballot on Monday or Tuesday. Yahoo News correspondent Hunter Walker tweeted that records indicate that Brady’s voter registration “is currently inactive and he’s not enrolled in a party.”
Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen, was asked by a commenter on Instagram if she and Brady supported Trump. The supermodel replied “NO!” (her caps). It was confirmed that Brady did vote on Monday by absentee ballot, but was keeping mum on who he voted for.
Breaking: Tom Brady voted via absentee ballot yesterday morning at 10:09 am in Brookline. pic.twitter.com/6sxkikLAyM
— Kirk and Callahan (@KirkAndCallahan) November 8, 2016
Records show Tom Brady’s voter registration is currently inactive and he’s not enrolled in a party.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) November 8, 2016
Belichick known for being a quiet supporter of D pols and liberal causes. I smell an orange-maned rat behind that letter.
— Charles P. Pierce (@ESQPolitics) November 8, 2016
Yeah, excuse me for waiting to see the proof before I believe Bill Belichick wrote Trump a letter in Trump’s own rambling speaking style.
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) November 8, 2016
