Trump blasts Hall of Fame for snubbing Bill Belichick

“It’s terrible,” President Donald Trump declared regarding the omission of Bill Belichick from the National Football Hall of Fame, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the sports community. The eight-time Super Bowl champion, known for his remarkable coaching career, was notably absent from the prestigious list.

During a recent interview with NBC News, Trump expressed his discontent while discussing the Super Bowl with Tom Llamas. Belichick, who led the New England Patriots to six of his eight Super Bowl victories, retired in 2024 and took on a new role as head coach at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

Trump speculated that Belichick’s controversial tenure at UNC, which has been overshadowed by personal headlines involving his girlfriend Jordon Hudson, might have influenced the Hall of Fame voters. “He should have been elected on the first ballot,” Trump insisted.

“I thought it was terrible,” he reiterated. “He’s won so much, so many Super Bowls. A great coach. Sure, he became a bit controversial after that period, but during his career, he was just phenomenal. Very inappropriate not to include him.”

When pressed about which team he favored in the upcoming game, Trump sidestepped the question. “I’ve watched both teams this season. New England’s amazing; having a second coming is impressive. Both quarterbacks are good. Seattle’s quarterback is an incredible comeback story, and the other one is just fantastic. It’s going to be a great game,” he remarked, adding humorously, “I better not make any predictions; you get yourself in big trouble.”

Trump praised New England’s winning tradition and Bob Kraft’s leadership. Meanwhile, a video from the White House teasing Trump’s pick was edited just before revealing a team name.

The NFL community reacted strongly to Belichick’s first-ballot rejection in January, with speculation swirling around a possible feud with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The motivations behind Hall of Fame voting remain largely opaque. Some believe Belichick’s legacy is marred by past scandals, including a notorious 2007 incident where the Patriots were caught filming opposing teams’ signals.

This incident resulted in the loss of a first-round draft pick for the Patriots. Reports indicate that Trump played a role in assisting Kraft to mitigate a U.S. Senate investigation related to the scandal.

Recently, the Hall of Fame confirmed that Kraft would also not be part of the 2026 class, regardless of voting rounds. Following the initial voting results, Kraft issued a statement condemning Belichick’s exclusion and seemingly attempting to quell rumors of discord.

“As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League,” Kraft stated.

“He is the greatest coach of all time and unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”