Quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with Julian Edelman (11) and their teammates after their overtime win in the Super Bowl against the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. | AP Photo Trump ditched Super Bowl as Patriots were getting crushed

Bad timing, Mr. President.

Donald Trump gave up on his favored team at 8:57 p.m. Sunday, as that team, the New England Patriots, was on pace for an embarrassing Super Bowl blowout, trailing 28-3. “The motorcade is rolling from the Trump International Golf Club, as Super Bowl LI continues but POTUS' preferred team trailing,” read a pool report.


The rest, as they say, is history. New England pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, defeating the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28, in overtime.

In an interview on Fox News that aired before the game, Trump noted his friendship with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the team's owner, Robert Kraft. Trump seemed to allude to the Patriots figures facing criticism for their association with him.

“I know they’re taking a lot of heat,” Trump said. “But you know what, they’re also getting a popularity of it. I think they’re going to do very well. Tom’s a winner.”

As it turned out, Trump's pregame prediction — an 8-point Patriots win — was off by a mere 2 points.

It was unclear whether Trump tuned back in to the game. But he tweeted this afterward: "What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!"