May 4 (UPI) — President Donald Trump is adding New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick to his Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
Belichick and former NFL running back Herschel Walker will join the council, according to a White House statement released Friday. They will serve for a term of two years.
The council also includes Johnny Damon, Lou Ferrigno, Dr. Oz and many others.
Trump announced his intent to appoint Walker, Mariano Rivera and Misty May-Treanor as co-chairs and members of the council. He also announced his intent to nominate Mindy Brashears of Texas to be the under secretary for food safety at the Department of Agriculture.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Trump are longtime friends. Kraft also contributed to Trump’s presidential campaign in the 2016 election. Belichick is also longtime friends. The Patriots coach was asked about the nature of their relationship after Trump read a supportive letter from Belichick at a rally on election day.
“I’ve received a number of inquiries relative to a note that I wrote to Donald on Monday,” Belichick told reporters in 2016. “Our friendship goes back many years and I think anybody that’s spent more than five minutes with me knows I’m not a political person. The comments are not politically motivated. I have a friendship and loyalty to Donald.”
In October, Kraft was critical of Trump’s stance regarding players kneeling during the national anthem before football games.
“The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that I don’t feel is in the best interests of America,” Kraft said, according to audio obtained by the New York Times.
“It’s divisive and it’s horrible.”
Belichick released a statement in September after Patriots players were kneeling and locking arms before a game.
“I have immense respect and admiration for our players, for how they conduct themselves professionally as New England Patriots and for how they represent themselves, their families and community as men,” the statement said. “I have coached football for over four decades and one of the greatest things about being in this environment is the diversity of people, backgrounds, viewpoints and relationships we are fortunate to experience.”
“As with any large group of people, there is a variety of perspectives and opinions on many topics. Discussions occur between myself, individual players, groups and the entire team on an ongoing basis. They concern the team and other issues surrounding the team. I am going to keep the specifics of those conversations private. I will do what I feel is best for the team in my role as head coach and collectively, we will work together to find the best way to proceed.”
Barack Obama’s council included Drew Brees, Grant Hill, Billie Jean King, Dominique Dawes, Tedy Bruschi, Chris Paul, Allyson Felix, Michelle Kwan, Carl Edwards and several others.
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