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On Monday, Trump plans to bestow Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) with the highest civilian honor. He plans to travel to Alamo, Texas on Tuesday to visit a section of the US-Mexico border wall. And on Thursday, Trump plans to award New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, according to a White House official.
A Patriots spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The president’s efforts to continue a normal program of events amid the uproar he inspired began last week, when, in the aftermath of the riots, he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to professional golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player. This week’s events will have an equally grim backdrop. Democrats could vote as early as Tuesday on articles of impeachment for inciting the violent mobs that trashed the Capitol, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) said on Sunday in an appearance on Fox News .
Not everyone in the administration is apparently going as usual. Vice President Mike Pence was also planning to host events this week highlight the political gains for the administration. Now, however, he is expected to stay low during his final days in the White House, according to people close to him. Pence and Trump have would have not spoken after crowds of Trump supporters took to the Hill while Pence was there to oversee the Electoral College certification in Congress.
Just 10 days away from his tenure, Trump is trying to squeeze the power of the presidency until the very last minute. He’s been considering preemptive pardons for his family and even his closest staff, and is expected to take a final ride on Air Force One in Florida ahead of Biden’s inauguration in a latest election results snob .
The Medal of Freedom for Belichick will represent the culmination of one of the most public relations Trump has had with a major sports figure during his presidency.
Last month, Trump re-elected Belichick to the Presidential Council on Sport, Fitness and Nutrition and before that 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 for a traditional post-championship ceremony in 2019 after winning the Super Bowl again, though Trump owner and friend Robert Kraft made personal appearances without the team.
Belichick wrote a letter of support for Trump in the 2016 election, and the president called him a “very good friend.” The admiration runs so deep that Trump considered turning to the coach as a military adviser.
“He’s a very good friend of mine. He’s a winner, ”Trump told Hugh Hewitt in a radio interview in August. “You know, if I ever had a military battle I would call Belichick and tell him what you think?” What do you think? Give me some ideas. “
Belichick, who has no military experience – but whose father was an advanced scout for the Naval Academy – said it was a “very nice compliment” but he’s fine with his day job.
“I’m flattered by this,” Belichick told Boston radio station WEEI. “But I will stick to football training.
Gabby Orr contributed to this report.
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