Donald Trump is sticking by his friends in New England to win the Super Bowl this year.
The billionaire mogul talked up the Patriots in an interview Monday with Jeffrey Kuhner on WRKO 680-AM in Boston.
“I have to root for Tom [Brady],” Trump said. “And your coach is great … [Bill] Belicheck as your coach, you have a terrific owner in Bob Kraft. They’re all my friends. So I’ve always rooted for them.”
Earlier in the interview, Kuhner asked Trump if he is expecting to win Massachusetts. Trump immediately brought up his friendship with Brady, saying, “I mean, Tom Brady loves me and I love Tom Brady.”
Trump, who currently sits at second place in the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, continued to praise Brady when asked if he knew that Brady sprained his ankle during Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.
“I know Tom. He is the greatest guy, he is the greatest person,” Trump said. “And, what a great football player. And they say he’s going to be OK for the game. He’s such a great competitor, even if he’s not OK he’s better than everyone else. You got yourselves a real gem, believe me.”
The New England Patriots have clinched their division and a spot in the playoffs, and have secured a first-round bye. To earn a spot in Super Bowl 50, they will have to come out of a tough field of AFC opponents that includes the top-seeded Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brady and Trump were friends long before the current GOP front-runner announced his candidacy for president. In September, Brady said he would love to see Trump in the White House.
“I hope so,” Brady said when asked if he thinks Trump can realistically win. “That would be great. There’d be a putting green on the White House lawn, I’m sure of that.”
The Patriots quarterback has been less keen to discuss his friend’s presidential campaign in recent months.
In December, the Patriots had to cut a press conference short after Brady was bombarded with questions about his relationship with Trump. Brady never addressed those questions directly.
