Belichick has been a longtime supporter Trump, both publicly and privatelyGetty Images
President Trump is "appointing a number of sports celebrities" to his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, according to Jonathan Swan of AXIOS. A source said that Patriots coach Bill Belichick, golfer Natalie Gulbis, Gold Medal-winning volleyball player Misty May-Treanor, former MLBer Mariano Rivera and former NFLer Herschel Walker will be among those on the council. The N.Y. Times reported White House Chief of Staff John Kelly "marveled to donors last week that Trump spent 'a long time' on the phone with Belichick" (AXIOS.com, 5/4). YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee notes the potential council members "have longstanding connections to Trump." Belichick is a "longtime Trump supporter, both publicly and privately," while Gulbis gave a speech supporting Trump at the '16 RNC. Both Gulbis and Walker appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice," while Walker was the "key cog on Trump's short-lived USFL team, the New Jersey Generals" (FINANCE.YAHOO.com, 5/4). In N.Y., Evan Grossman notes the group was formerly known as the Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition "while President Obama was in office." Trump's council will "reportedly be tasked with getting more kids involved in sports." Under Obama, the group "promoted improving nutrition alongside Michelle Obama's school lunch initiative" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 5/4).
NOT JUST JOCKS: POLITICO's Ben Schreckinger reported Cleveland pastor Darrell Scott indicated that the White House is "exploring plans to host multiple summits on race between prominent athletes and artists" and Trump. Scott, one of Trump's most prominent black allies, said that the idea of bringing in artists and athletes to "hash out their differences with Trump has gotten a boost from last week’s lovefest between the president and Kanye West." Scott was set to "meet Thursday with Trump at the White House about the summit proposal." The plans remain "preliminary and no dates have been set, though Scott expressed confidence the summits would go forward and that Trump would attend." Scott: "It’s going to be unscripted, unfiltered, blunt. No topic is off the table." He added that organizers are "considering holding an athletes summit sometime between the end of the NBA finals around mid-June and the beginning of NFL training camp in late July." Scott said that Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown, a Trump supporter, "would be invited to the athletes summit" along with Basketball HOFer Elvin Hayes and former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield. Scott acknowledged that the summits have the "potential to be explosive." But he said that was a "good thing." Scott: “I want it to get heated. However, I want it to stay respectful. I don’t anticipate anybody throwing any blows" (POLITICO.com, 5/2).
