President Donald Trump will present one of the nation's highest civilian honors to Bill Belichick, the football coach of the New England Patriots and the only coach to win six Super Bowl titles.
The presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is expected Thursday, a White House official confirmed on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Trump and Belichick have known each other for several years. At Trump's New Hampshire rally in the run up to the 2016 election, he even read a letter of praise from Belichick.
President Donald Trump will present one of the nation's highest civilian honors to Bill Belichick on Thursday
Belichick is the football coach of the New England Patriots and the only coach to win six Super Bowl titles
Belichick said afterward he was not a political person and that he had 'a friendship and loyalty to Donald.'
Trump also plans to give Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) the award Monday.
Trump has selected a string of sports figures and political backers for the award of late. He has often held grand presentation ceremonies for the award, but recent ceremonies have taken place in private. Trump has generally avoided the press since his election loss.
Belichick is undoubtedly one of the most successful football coaches in NFL history and owns the most wins among active coaches.
The 68-year-old just completed his 46th NFL season and 21st as Patriots coach - leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships.
Belichick is undoubtedly one of the most successful football coaches in NFL history and owns the most wins among active coaches. Pictured; Tom Brady #12, team owner Robert Kraft, and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots celebrate Super Bowl XLIX win in 2015
The 68-year-old just completed his 46th NFL season and 21st as Patriots coach - leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships. Pictured; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick celebrate after 24-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers in AFC Divisional Playoff game at Qualcomm Stadium in 2007
Belichick of the New England Patriots celebrates with his granddaughter Blakely after the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia
Trump and Belichick have known each other for several years. At Trump's New Hampshire rally in the run up to the 2016 election, he even read a letter of praise from Belichick
The Bill Belichick Foundation also provides scholarship and grant funds to help underprivileged youth participate in sports programs.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is only awarded an average of 11 times per year.
It recognizes those who have made 'an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.'
The announcement comes just days after Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to three golfers the day after the Capitol riot.
Two of the recipients, Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, are retired, while the third, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, died in 1956, and was awarded the medal posthumously, the Golf Channel reported.
The ceremony took place behind closed doors and the president did not have any events listed on his schedule, following the riot at the Capitol that led to five deaths.
In 2019, Trump awarded the medal to Tiger Woods, who holds numerous golf records and is tied for first for most PGA Tour wins of all time,
The only other golfers to have received the award are Arnold Palmer in 2004, Jack Nicklaus in 2005 and Charlie Sifford in 2014.
Player, who hails from South Africa, has won 24 PGA Tour events and 118 international tournaments, according to ESPN.
Sorenstan, who is Swedish, has won 72 LPGA Tours, making her the winningest female golfer, and she has earned the The Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year award three times.
The announcement comes just days after Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to three golfers the day after the Capitol riot (pictured)
On Thursday, President Donald Trump awarded three golfers - Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player and Babe Didrikson Zaharias - the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a closed-door ceremony
Sorenstam and Player, two of the most decorated golfers in history, are retired while Zaharias (pictured), who died in 1956, was awarded the medal posthumously
No photos from the ceremony have been distributed, but pictures have captured both Player and Sorenstan at the White House on Thursday (above)
It comes less than 24 hours after Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a riot that led to five deaths. Many have called the timing of the ceremony 'tone deaf.' Pictured" Trump and Sorenstam in 1994, left; and Player and Sorenstam in 2015, right
Meanwhile, Zaharias - founder of the LPGA - was also an Olympic track and field champion and was a top-ranked golfer upon her death from colon cancer.
While all three have had exceptional careers, many felt that the timing of the awards was poor due to its proximity to the events that took place at the Capitol.
Hundreds - incited by Trump himself - invaded the chambers and office of Senate and House.
The riot led to one woman being fatally shot, three dying from medical emergencies and a Capitol Police officer succumbing to injuries from a rioter.
Some have called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked so Trump can be removed from office while Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says she plans to impeach Trump a second time.
No photos from the ceremony have been distributed, but pictures have captured both Player and Sorenstan at the White House on Thursday.
Additionally, video of the reception shows a pianist playing music for guests, many of whom are wearing masks incorrectly or not at all.
Player's son and daughter-in-law, Marc and Claudia, tweeted that they were 'ashamed' and said they wished Player would decline the award
Player's son Marc tweeted that he wanted his father to reject the medal.
'I wish my father would simply & politely decline this 'award' at this time. Tone deaf. In denial. Wrong!!' he wrote.
Marc's wife, Claudia, added that accepting the award was a 'mistake' and added: 'I am ashamed.'
Additionally, The Golf Channel's Damon Hack issued a critical statement on Golf Today.
'I have to say I've been saddened, heartbroken, confused and occasionally angered at the normalization of this President by so many,' he said, according to Golf Monthly.
'And today's medal ceremony on the day after inciting of a mob by said President, it's just one more reminder of the tone deafness, the convenient comfortable ignorance of many in our game.'
Only four other golfers have ever received the nation's highest civilian honor, including Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Charlie Sifford. Pictured: Trump gives Woods the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House, May 2019
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