New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick turned down President Trump’s invitation to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom following the riots last week in the US Chapter.
Belichick, who previously spoke publicly about his friendship with the president, agreed to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor after Trump offered it to him a week ago. That’s before a lot of supporters of the president besieged the Chapter, leaving five people dead.
The news of the offer to Belichick appeared only on Sunday, provoking questions if the best performer in the history of football will be with his friend amid the controversy.
Belichick’s pivot is a sharp rebuke from a president who has faced calls from Democratic lawmakers and Republicans to step down. His decision comes just days after Trump awarded the medal to Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam, two of the best golfers of all time. Player and Sorenstam have been criticized for associating with the president following recent events.
Belichick’s decision came as the pockets of the sports world that had remained in support of Trump rushed to break away from the president in his last days in office. Late Sunday, the PGA of America released the prestigious 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, with Jim Richerson, president of the organization, saying, “It became clear that the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be to the detriment of America’s PGA brand.”