President Trump
Donald Trump Capitol police chief who has just denounced accuses House and Senate security officials of thwarting efforts to convene the National Guard: WaPo PGA announces plans to move 2022 championship to Trump property . plans to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
A White House official confirmed that Trump plans to honor Belichick with the award a week after the president urged a crowd of supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol during proceedings to certify the president-elect Joe Biden
Joe Biden: Capitol police chief accuses House and Senate security officials of thwarting efforts to convene the National Guard: WaPo PGA announces plans to move the 2022 championship to Trump’s property.the victory.
The ceremony will take place towards the end of a week during which House Democrats have vowed to accuse the president for the second time in history in connection with last week’s deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol. Trump handed over the honor to golfers Gary Player and Annika Sorenstam in the days following the riots.
Belichick will join a list of sports figures to whom Trump has awarded the Medal of Freedom.
Trump and the Patriots coach are longtime friends and the president appointed Belichick to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition in 2018. The NFL team and Belichick visited the White House after the Super victory Bowl of 2017, but avoided a return visit after the 2019 victory.
Last August, Trump told Conservative radio presenter Hugh Hewitt that Belichick is “a very good friend of mine. It’s a winner. “
“You know, if I ever had a military battle, I would call Belichick and tell you what you think? What do you think? Give me a couple of ideas, ”Trump said.
“I’m flattered by that, but I’ll just keep coaching football,” Belichick told Boston Sports Station WEEI.
Politico first reported on plans to honor Belichick with the award.
The President in recent weeks has also presented the honor to one of his most vocal advocates in the House, Reps. Devin Nunes
Devin Gerald Nunes Sunday shows preview: riots hit Washington as calls for Trump’s ousting grow READ: Republicans who voted to challenge election results Trump awards Nunes the Medal of Freedom (R-California). Rep. Jim Jordan
James (Jim) Daniel Jordan Preview on Sunday: Riots Reach Washington as Calls for Trump’s Dismissal Grow READ: Republicans Vote to Challenge Election Results LIVE COVERAGE: Congress Certifies Biden Victory after the challenges of Pennsylvania and Arizona failed MORE (R-Ohio), another Trump ally, will receive the honor this week, the White House official confirmed.
It is unclear whether any of the medal ceremonies will be public. Trump has usually handed out the awards publicly throughout his presidency, but has kept the events of Nunes and the pair of golfers closed to the press.
The hill has contacted the Patriots to comment.
– Updated at 8:55 p.m.