Devin McCourty Comments on Decision to Skip White House Visit with Donald Trump

New England Patriots star Devin McCourty will not go to the White House to celebrate the team's Super Bowl LI victory, but it may be due to convenience rather than political disagreements with President Donald Trump.

"It wasn't really a big decision," McCourty told Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. "I knew I wasn't going to the White House if we won. To me, it's a personal decision. Having been there before, you go there and you shake the president's hand. That's it. For me, I don't want to go and sit around the White House for four hours to shake the president's hand."  

The 29-year-old was a member of the Patriots contingent that visited President Barack Obama in 2015 after the team's victory in Super Bowl XLIX, according to Dunleavy.

"Last time we won, a bunch of guys didn't go," he added. "But it just wasn't as a big a deal as it is now."

Quarterback Tom Brady was one of the notable absentees during New England's previous trip to the White House.

These comments from McCourty are in stark contrast to his initial reasoning for passing on the trip.

"I'm not going to the White House," the safety told Sean Gregory of Time shortly after the win over the Atlanta Falcons. "Basic reason for me is I don't feel accepted in the White House. With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won't."

At least six Patriots have already declared they will skip the opportunity to meet the president, including tight end Martellus Bennett and defensive end Chris Long.

Despite those holdouts, Trump still has support at the top of the organization. He has discussed his friendship with Brady, head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft in the past, and he was notably excited for the Patriots after Super Bowl LI.