At a rally last night in New Hampshire, Donald Trump read a glowing letter of support that he claimed had been penned by Bill Belichick:
“Congratulations on a tremendous campaign. You have to help with an unbelievable slanted and negative media and have come out beautifully. You have proven to be the ultimate competitor fighter. Your leadership is amazing. I have always had tremendous respect for you for the toughness and perseverance you have displayed over the past year is remarkable. Hopefully tomorrow’s election, the results will give the opportunity to make America great again.
Best wishes for great results tomorrow,
Bill Belichick”
Because the letter was so drenched in Trump-speak—the use of “tremendous” is probably the clearest tell—and because Trump has a history of exaggerating and/or inventing support from prominent sports figures, it made sense to reserve some doubt.
But CSN New England reports this morning, in somewhat vague language, that Belichick “did indeed drop a note to Donald Trump on Monday,” and that Trump later “read the Belichick letter onstage,” implying that Belichick’s note and the text Trump read are one and the same.
Another reporter confirmed in even more explicit terms that Belichick did write the letter:
If only this were surprising.