Donald Trump’s fandom of the Patriots, a 3-act Twitter story
Let's take it back to the very beginning.

President Donald Trump has had a long, curious relationship with professional football. Perhaps nowhere else has that been as fully on display than in Trump’s 15 years of public admiration for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
According to Brady, he met the future president at a beauty pageant in 2002 after his winning his first Super Bowl and developed a golf-centric friendship. That friendship became a lot more awkward — both for Brady and for some fans — as Trump increasingly became more involved in politics.
For the first time in years, Brady and Trump are set to appear together in person Wednesday when the Patriots visit the White House. Trump is expected to congratulate the team on their historic Super Bowl LI comeback victory. But Trump has long rained praise on Brady and the team from afar — on his preferred method of communication: Twitter.
Part 1: Just another fan
The signs of Trump’s fandom of the Patriots first appeared on Twitter before a 2012 game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium, which Trump attended in person.
“Major grudge match this weekend between @nyjets & @Patriots,” he tweeted. “I have a dilemma, I am good friends w/ both Woody Johnson & Bob Kraft–two amazing men.”
Despite his conflicted feelings, Trump ultimately appeared to enjoy the experience.
Had a great time watching the @nyjets @Patriots game yesterday at Gillette Stadium. Great and exciting game.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2012
Trump’s social media fandom continued on fairly uncontroversially for some time, with the then-real estate mogul and reality TV star benignly tweeting well wishes and congratulations at the team.
To Tom Brady @patriots and Gisele–Best wishes on the birth of your daughter. Tom is a great player and great friend.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2012
Before a regular season Monday night game against the Houston Texans, Trump accidentally tweeted “Good luck” to Patriots owner and longtime friend Robert Kraft and coach “Bob” Belichick.
Trump lated deleted and corrected the tweet, which he blamed on “some dope.”
Some dope tweeted my message to my friend Bill Belichick incorrectly–they called him Bob. Sorry Bill! @Patriots
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2012
Congratulations to Tom Brady @Patriots — he is a great quarterback and a great champion!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2013
Congratulations to Bob Kraft and Coach Bill Belichick for having built an amazing team. @Patriots
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2013
Never bet against Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick or Tom Brady! @Patriots
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2013
Trump even endorsed the team’s short-lived offseason signing of former college football star Tim Tebow in 2013.
Great going to Bob Kraft & Bill Belichick of the @Patriots on @TimTebow. Tim is a winner just like them!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2013
Congrats to @TimTebow on making @Patriots’ first cut. Stay strong and positive! We are all rooting for you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2013
Tebow was cut less than a week later. Trump would eventually return to congratulating Brady after games.
Tom Brady has done a great job tonight-amazing New England comeback. Good game- not over yet!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2013
Tom Brady is a good friend of mine, a great player, a great guy and a total winner! Fantastic comeback win-this is what our country needs!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2013
“The true competitors are the ones who always play to win.” – Tom Brady @Patriots
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2014
Tom Brady played great today. He is a total champ and a really nice guy, a rare combination!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2014
“@DanScavino:Tom Brady & @realDonaldTrump make for solid golf partners at Trump National Golf Club. #PatriotsVSColts pic.twitter.com/d2t8XAjf4x“
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 19, 2015
Part 2: Deflategate crusader
Trump’s tone became more activist, however, after the Patriots became embroiled in the infamously prolonged Deflategate controversy. At first he stood behind the team and Belichick — and took tremendous glee in the Super Bowl XLIX victory.
Just watched @Patriots Bill Belichick’s news conference. He did a great job—smart, concise, truthful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2015
Love that Patriots won – Brady is best ever! Seahawks pass was DUMBEST play in the history of football! Great going COACH B!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2015
After a few months of dormancy, Trump erupted in support of Brady following the May 6 release of the Wells Report, which found it was “more probable than not” that the quarterback “was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities.”
Tom Brady would have won if he was throwing a soccer ball. He is my friend and a total winner! @Patriots
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2015
Following the initial announcement of Brady’s four-game suspension, the soon-to-be presidential candidate made compared the fiasco to another never-ending controversy.
They had no definitive proof against Tom Brady or #patriots. If Hillary doesn’t have to produce Emails, why should Tom? Very unfair!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2015
Trump soon joined the many Patriots fans claiming that the NFL was engaged in a witch hunt against Brady, and urged the quarterback to sue the league.
People are so jealous of Tom Brady and the Patriots. No court could convict based on the evidence.They can’t beat him on the field, so this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2015
You can be an @nfl player with murder charges and not be suspended. Yet with NO EVIDENCE, @nfl targeted Tom Brady. B.S.!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2015
I hope Tom Brady sues the hell out of the @nfl for incompetence & defamation. They will drop the case against him–and he will win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2015
Who ever heard of a legal conviction statement “more probable than not” against Tom Brady? Sue them, Tom, and make lots of $. @nfl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2015
There is no way my friend Bob Kraft agreed not to appeal the NFL decision without making a deal to at least get something. We love Tom Brady
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2015
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his campaign for the presidency.
Per @rushlimbaugh: Why does Hillary Clinton get the benefit of the doubt (after she DESTROYS her illegal email server) …
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2015
… while Tom Brady is guilty because he REPLACED his LEGAL cellphone?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2015
Part 3: Do you guys know I know Tom Brady?
As Trump’s campaign progressed (and as the all-important New Hampshire primary loomed), the candidate seemed to shift back to congratulating Brady — and reminding followers of the relationship he shared with the quarterback.
Congratulations to Tom Brady on yet another great victory- Tom is my friend and a total winner!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2015
“@iamapatsfan: What are your thoughts on your good friend Tom Brady’s performance yesterday? He was fantastic, a total winner!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 12, 2015
Thank you to Tom Brady, Coach Ditka, Coach Bobby Knight and all of the many champions that have been so supportive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2015
Heading to Boston to see another huge crowd! My friend Tom Brady is a great competitor and golf partner. https://t.co/lWpbffq5bp
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2015
Tom Brady just did it again. He is not only a great guy, he is, without question, the BEST quarterback!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2015
Amid the tweets, Trump repeatedly name-dropped Brady at rallies across New England throughout the presidential campaign.
“I have so many great friends in New England, including Tom Brady and Coach Belichick. How good is Tom? Remember last year, he had the red hats?” he said at a New Hampshire rally last October, referring to the Trump hat that was spotted in Brady’s locker a year earlier.
During another New Hampshire rally on the eve of the general election, Trump claimed that Brady voted for him and read aloud a supportive letter written to him by Belichick.
“Tom Brady, great guy, great friend of mine, great, great champion, unbelievable winner,” Trump said of Brady at the rally.
Of course, 2016 turned out to be a pretty successful year for both Trump and the Patriots. And while the president has presumably been too occupied with other responsibilities to tweet about the football team, he did have time for one more congratulatory tweet the night of their Super Bowl LI win.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/828447350200926212