Donald Trump campaign says Bill Belichick's endorsement came in an email

Hunter Walker
·White House Correspondent

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he received endorsements from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick at an event in Manchester, N.H., on Monday night.

Trump told the crowd Brady expressed his support in a phone call, while Belichick wrote a letter. He read the text of what he said was Belichick’s missive to the audience in the Granite State, where residents largely root for the Patriots. The letter was greeted with skepticism, particularly since the language was quite similar to Trump’s speaking style. On Tuesday, two local reporters said they confirmed Belichick wrote the note.

A Trump campaign source provided Yahoo News with the full text. The source said Belichick emailed it to Trump.

Donald,
Congratulations on a tremendous campaign!!
You have dealt with an unbelievably slanted & negative media & have come out of it beautifully.
You have proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter!! Your leadership is amazing!!
I have always had tremendous respect for you, but the toughness & perseverance you have displayed over the past year is remarkable.
Hopefully, tomorrow’s election results will give you the opportunity to Make America Great Again!!
Best wishes for great results tomorrow,
Bill Belichick

Trump read almost all of the message on stage. Several reporters quickly cast doubt on the authenticity of the Belichick letter on Twitter.

At the rally, Trump also said Brady had already cast his vote.

“Tom Brady. Great guy. Great guy. Great guy. Great friend of mine,” Trump began. “Great, great champion. Unbelievable winner. He called today, and he said, ‘Donald, I support you. You’re my friend. And I voted for you.’ And I want to tell you, this guy is a champ. And he’s a winner. And he’s a great person.”

Brady has called Trump a “good friend” in the past and said the pair have known each other for a “long time.” Though Brady once displayed one of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats in his locker, he has repeatedly tried to avoid questions about who he’s voting for.

On Tuesday, WEEI’s Kirk & Callahan radio show reported that Brady voted on Monday via absentee ballot in Brookline, Mass. The hosts also published a photo they said showed Brady with poll workers.

Brady’s wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, cast doubt on his political allegiances in a comment on her Instagram page. A commenter asked Bundchen if she and Brady would be voting for Trump. Her response was an emphatic: “NO!”

Yahoo News called Belichick to ask about the letter shortly after Trump read it on Monday night. The coach, who has an infamously combative relationship with the media, declined to comment.

“I’ll get back to you later,” Belichick said before hanging up.

He did not respond to a follow-up text message.

This post was last updated at 10:4 a.m. on Nov. 8 to include the reports the email was confirmed, photos of Brady, and Bundchen’s comments.