WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has congratulated the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at the White House.

Trump hosted the five-time champions on the South Lawn and declared that “no team has been good this long.”

The president drew some parallels to the team’s 25-point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in February to his own political upset win.

Trump saluted a number of individual players but did not mention superstar quarterback Tom Brady, whose friendship he repeatedly touted during his campaign. Brady notified the White House that he was dealing with a “personal family matter” and did not attend the ceremony.

More than two dozen players did not attend the ceremony. Several had said beforehand that would not show for political reasons.

Trump made no mention of the death of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was found dead early today in a Massachusetts prison where he was serving a life sentence for murder. Authorities say the 27-year-old hanged himself in his cell.

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