Washington, April 20 (RHC)-- Dozens of members of the New England Patriots, including the U.S. football team’s quarterback, Tom Brady, skipped a visit to the White House Super Bowl tribute Wednesday in a rebuke to President Trump.  Only 34 players attended Wednesday’s ceremony, compared to 50 players in 2015, when the Patriots also won the Super Bowl.

Quarterback Tom Brady said he was skipping the ceremony for personal family reasons. While Brady has supported Trump in the past, reportedly even keeping a "Make America Great Again" hat in his locker, his wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, issued support for the upcoming climate march against Trump on Wednesday, tweeting: "On April 29 in Washington DC March for climate, jobs and justice.  To change everything, we need everyone." She later deleted the tweet.

Other players said explicitly that their boycott was directed at President Trump.  Defensive tackle Alan Branch said: "I couldn’t shake his hand and look my daughters in the eye."