On Monday, Trump plans to hand over to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to give the highest civil honor. On Tuesday, he plans to visit Alamo, Texas, to visit a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. And on Thursday, Trump plans to award the presidential medal of freedom, according to Bellyick head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots.
A Patriots spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The president’s efforts to bring about a normal schedule of events amid the uproar he inspired began last week when he awarded the professional medal of freedom to professional golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player in the aftermath of the riots. has. This week’s events will have a similarly gloomy background. Democrats could already vote Tuesday on articles of accusation for inciting the violent mob that looted the Capitol, Jim Clyburn (DS.C.), whip from the House, said Sunday during an appearance on Fox News.
Apparently not everyone in the administration does business as usual. Vice President Mike Pence also planned to hold events this week emphasizes policy profit for the administration. According to people close to him, however, he is expected to lie low during his last days in the White House. Pence and Trump to be heard not speaking after crowds of Trump supporters descended on the Hill while Pence oversaw the certification of the Electoral College in Congress.
With only ten days left in his term, Trump is trying to harness the power of the presidency until the last minute. He has cleared preventive pardons for family members and even his closest staff members, and he is expected to take one last ride on Air Force One back to Florida before Biden’s inauguration in a final part of the election results.
The Medal of Freedom for Belichick will be the culmination of one of the more public relations Trump enjoyed with a key sports figure during his presidency.
Last month, Trump reappointed Belichick to the President’s Council for Sport, Fitness and Nutrition and before that time he welcomed Belichick and the Patriots to the White House after their Super Bowl victory over the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. But the team did not go not for a traditional post-championship ceremony in 2019 after winning the Super Bowl again, although owner and Trump friend Robert Kraft made personal appearances without the team.
Belichick wrote a letter of support for Trump during the 2016 election, and the president called him a “very good friend.” The admiration is so deep that Trump thought it appropriate to turn to the coach as a military adviser.
‘He’s a very good friend of mine. He is a winner, “Trump told Hugh Hewitt in a radio interview in August. “You know, if I were ever to fight a military battle, I’d call Belichick and say what do you think? What do you think? Give me some ideas. ‘
Belichick, who has no military experience but whose father was a pre-scout for the Naval Academy, said it was a ‘very nice compliment’, but he is fine with his day job.
“I’m being flattered,” Belichick told Boston radio station WEEI. “But I just stick to coaching football.”
Of the 25 presidential medals of freedom Trump has awarded or announced, 15 were for people known primarily for sports, including two posthumous awards (Babe Ruth, Babe Didrikson Zaharias). The others were Lou Holtz, Alan Page and Roger Staubach (football); Jerry West and Bob Cousy (basketball); Mariano Rivera (baseball); Jim Ryun (cut); Dan Gable (wrestling); Player, Sorenstam and Tiger Woods (golf); and Roger Penske (motor race).
Gabby Orr contributed to this report.