Tom Brady Says He's Fine With Teammates Skipping White House Visit

Tom Brady apparently has no problem with his teammates skipping out on a visit with President Donald Trump later this year.

With six members of the New England Patriots publicly announcing their intent to not be present for the team's trip to the White House, Brady told Mike Florio on PFT Live Tuesday morning "everybody has their own choice."

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Brady was not present when the team visited with President Barack Obama in 2015, citing pre-scheduled commitments as the reason.

“Putting politics aside, it never was a political thing. At least, it never was to me. It was a privilege because it meant you won a championship and you got to experience something cool with your team, with your teammates. Everyone has their own choice. It’s an offseason. These days are valuable for everybody. You only get so much time with your family and friends, and if people don’t want to go they don’t want to go and that’s their choice," Brady told Florio.

Martellus Bennett, Devin McCourty, Chris Long, and LeGarrette Blount have cited or hinted at Trump's policies as being the reason for skipping the visit. Alan Branch said he is choosing family time over the visit, and Dont’a Hightower, who skipped the 2015 visit, said he'll do the same this time around.

The relationship between the president and Brady, team owner Robert Kraft, and coach Bill Belichick has been a point of criticism over the past few months. Kraft told the Today Show Monday that players have skipped the visit on their four previous trips to the White House.

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