'I don't feel accepted': Devin McCourty becomes SECOND Patriots player to say he won't be visiting the White House because of Donald Trump

  • Patriots' Devin McCourty said he wouldn't be at the team's White House visit
  • The 29-year-old defensive lineman said he didn't feel accepted there on Monday
  • Teammate Martellus Bennett said wasn't going because he didn't support Trump
  • Bennett confirmed his decision after New England's Super Bowl win on Sunday 
  • The tight end said he wasn't worried what the team's pro-Trump owner thought
  • Both players raised their fists after the national anthem 'to start a conversation' in regards to social injustice in September

By Cheyenne Roundtree For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:53 EST, 7 February 2017 | Updated: 20:29 EST, 7 February 2017

Patriots defensive lineman Devin McCourty became the second New England player to say he wouldn't be on the team's trip to the White House because he doesn't 'feel accepted' there. 

McCourty's decision to skip out on meeting Donald Trump follows in the footsteps of teammate Martellus Bennett, who said he wouldn't attend because he doesn't support the president.

The 29-year-old athlete doesn't 'feel accepted in the White House' and 'can't imagine' he would attend because of Trump's 'prejudices', he said following the Super Bowl win on Monday.

Patriots defensive lineman Devin McCourty said on Monday that he will not be attending the team's visit to the White House following New England's Super Bowl win. The 29-year-old said he doesn't 'feel accepted' there and is the second player to say he will not go

Patriots defensive lineman Devin McCourty said on Monday that he will not be attending the team's visit to the White House following New England's Super Bowl win. The 29-year-old said he doesn't 'feel accepted' there and is the second player to say he will not go

McCourty's (right) decision to skip out on meeting Donald Trump follows in the footsteps of teammate Martellus Bennett (left), who said he wouldn't attend because he doesn't support the president. The two are pictured in September with fists raised high to 'start the conversation' in regards to social injustice

McCourty's (right) decision to skip out on meeting Donald Trump follows in the footsteps of teammate Martellus Bennett (left), who said he wouldn't attend because he doesn't support the president. The two are pictured in September with fists raised high to 'start the conversation' in regards to social injustice

Both athletes made headlines in September when they raised their firsts high at the end of the national anthem in order to 'start the conversation' about social injustice.

McCourty said in a text message to TIME: '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.

He added: 'I can't imagine a way I go there.' 

Bennett, a tight end for New England, was the first player to say he was opting out of the celebratory trip because of reasons of not supporting Trump.

Martellus Bennett (pictured with his daughter after his team's victory) has vowed to skip the Patriots' celebratory trip to the White House because he doesn't support Trump

Martellus Bennett (pictured with his daughter after his team's victory) has vowed to skip the Patriots' celebratory trip to the White House because he doesn't support Trump

McCourty (left) celebrates his Super Bowl win at the victory parade in Boston alongside team owner Robert Kraft (center) and MVP Tom Brady (right)

McCourty (left) celebrates his Super Bowl win at the victory parade in Boston alongside team owner Robert Kraft (center) and MVP Tom Brady (right)

Before Sunday night's game the Dallas Morning News asked him if he would attend, and Bennett responded: 'Most likely no, because I don't support the guy that's in the house.'

He added he wasn't worried about what team owner Robert Kraft might think, as the CEO of the Kraft group is a Trump supporter.

Bennett confirmed after the game to the paper that he would not be going. 

In addition to Kraft, Tom Brady is a friend of Trump's and the president has claimed that the quarterback had called him to offer his congratulations after his presidential win. 

Both athletes have cited their reasons for not attending is because they do not support President Donald Trump. Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady are reported friends of the 45th president 

Both athletes have cited their reasons for not attending is because they do not support President Donald Trump. Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady are reported friends of the 45th president 


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