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Super Bowl: Donald Trump tips New England Patriots to beat LA Rams

The president counts on a long-time friendship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft

Ed Malyon
Sunday 03 February 2019 23:27 GMT
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Super Bowl 53: Everything you need to know about Rams v Patriots

US president Donald Trump has tipped the New England Patriots to beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl on Monday night.

Trump, reeling from a series of political defeats and facing increasing pressure from the Mueller probe, gave an interview to CBS ahead of the network's coverage of the NFL's annual showpiece event.

The owners of both Super Bowl participants, Robert Kraft of the Patriots and Stan Kroenke of the Rams, both donated generously to Trump's presidential campaign but the 45th president of the United States prioritised his long-time personal friendship with Kraft when making his prediction.

“They have a very special owner and coach, and certainly they have, I guess, the greatest quarterback of all time,“ Trump said in an interview with 'Face the Nation', referring to Kraft, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, respectively.

“So I would say they would win,” he added. “As the expression goes, who knows. I hope it’s a great game.”

Trump will watch Sunday night's game from a party at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The Patriots were the first professional sports team to visit Trump at the White House after the team won the Super Bowl in 2017.

“People love to come to the White House,” Trump said in Sunday's interview. “So the Patriots were here two years ago, and I’m sure they’ll be back.”

Last year's winners the Philadelphia Eagles infamously had their invitation to the Oval Office withdrawn after a number of players made it cleaer they would not attend. The Golden State Warriors similarly decided against attending after winning the NBA Championship Finals last year.

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