Watch: New England Patriots Visit White House

WASHINGTON, DC — This time, the New England Patriots’ visit to the White House felt like a gathering of friends rather than a formal ceremony.

For the fifth time, the team was on the South Lawn celebrating a Super Bowl win. The formal ceremony saw President Trump make remarks about the team and receive a Super Bowl LI jersey and helmet.

“This Super Bowl victory was a complete team effort. That’s the beauty of what they do, they win as a team. With your backs against the wall, and the pundits, boy those pundits, they're wrong a lot, saying you couldn’t do it, the game was over, you pulled the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time,” Trump said, apparently forgetting that he left his own Super Bowl party with Atlanta Falcons up 28-3 in the third quarter.

He also praised the performances of players such as Danny Amendola, Tre Flowers, Julian Edelman, Marcus Cannon, Matthew Slater, Malcolm Mitchell, and Nate Ebner. There was no mention of Tom Brady, who said Wednesday morning that he would not make a trip due to a family commitment that reportedly had to do with his ill mother being in town.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who has been friends with Trump for about 25 years, mentioned that in the 97-year history of the NFL, only seven teams have overcome a 25-point deficit. He also took the time to say some kind words about this friend.

“A man who is mentally tough and as hard working as anyone I know launched a campaign for the president against 16 career politicians. He persevered to become the 45th president of the United States. It’s a distinct honor to celebrate what was unequivocally our sweetest championship with a friend who we deeply admire,” Kraft said.

The Patriots are the first major sports champions to have the opportunity to visit Trump's White House. Five members of the Super Bowl roster — Devin McCourty, LeGarrette Blount, Chris Long, Alan Branch and Martellus Bennett — have said Trump's politics have led them to the decision to skip the trip. Dont'a Hightower will also not make the trip, stating in the past that he's gone before as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

"I don't feel welcome in that house," Blount said.

"With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't," he said.

Brady, Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft are all good friends of the president whose names were constantly brought up by Trump on the campaign trail. The story of the Belichick letter read that was read at a New Hampshire rally the night before the election was once again brought up during the ceremony.

Overall, 34 members of the team made the trip.

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Image via YouTube

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.