Tom Brady Turned Down Donald Trump's Invitation to Speak at 2016 RNC

President Donald Trump asked Tom Brady to speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention, according to an account given by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback to Howard Stern on Wednesday. 

"He wanted me to speak at that convention, too," Brady said, per NJ Advance Media's Darryl Slater. "... I wasn't going to do anything political. He always had a way of connecting with people and still does. Then the whole political aspect came.

"I think I got brought into a lot of those things because it was so polarizing around the election time. It was uncomfortable for me, because you can't undo things. Not that I would undo a friendship. But the political support is totally different than the support of a friend."

Brady has been asked several questions about his relationship with Trump, which dates back to 2001, since Trump first entered the presidential race. In 2015, Brady took criticism for having a "Make America Great Again" hat in his locker.

While he has not ended his personal friendship with Trump, Brady has separated himself from the President politically on a number of occasions. 

"There's zero win in anything in regards to that. It's politics. The whole political realm right now, I'm a person to embrace leadership. I was always trying to get along with everybody [in locker rooms]," Brady said. 

"I feel like in an outward sense, when you start talking about politics, it's about: How do you not bring people together? Which is the opposite of what politics should've always been in our country. I can only relate to it from my profession. Leadership, responsibility is about embracing the whole and trying to bring people together to lead them to a common goal."

Trump also has a relationship with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Bill Belichick, of whom Trump has spoken highly.