New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined President Trump’s invitation to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom after last week’s riots at the United States Capitol.
Belichick, who had previously spoken publicly about his friendship with the president, agreed to receive the country’s highest civilian tribute after Trump offered it a week ago. That was before a crowd of supporters of the president besieged the Capitol, leaving five dead.
News of the offer to Belichick only surfaced on Sunday, raising questions about whether the most talented coach in football history would stand by his friend amid the controversy.
Belichick’s pivot is a strong rebuke to a president who faced appeals from Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans to be removed from office. His decision came just days after Trump awarded the medal to Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam, two of the best golfers of all time. Player and Sorenstam faced criticism for joining the president after the recent events.
Belichick’s decision came at a time when the pockets of the sports world that had continued to support Trump rushed to dissociate themselves from the president during his last days in office. At the end of Sunday, the PGA of America took the prestigious 2022 PGA Championship from the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, with organization president Jim Richerson saying: “It was clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand . ”