HOUSTON -- The relationship the three most prominent Patriots - owner Bob Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady - have with President Donald Trump was always going to be a hot topic in the lead-up to Super Bowl LI.

It will be even more so now following a weekend of protests and outrage nationwide, including here, following Trump's executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim countries.

Those three men, and many other players and officials with both the Falcons and Patriots, will be asked about the order and Trump in the days to come, starting with Monday's Media Night.

How did Kraft, a Democrat who lives in Massachusetts, one of the most liberal states in the country, become a Trump friend and supporter? He explained why in an interview with The New York Daily News' Gary Myers, citing a personal story:

Kraft and Trump have been friends for a long time, even before Trump even thought about one day being the leader of the free world. Trump was often shown on television sitting with Kraft in the owner's suite in Foxborough. So, how does Kraft reconcile his own politics - in addition to living in his home state, which is staunchly Democrat -- and his friendship with Trump?

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Kraft's loyalty to Trump goes back to when his wife Myra died from cancer in 2011, shortly after the labor deal was done.

"When Myra died, (First Lady) Melania (Trump) and Donald came up to the funeral in our synagogue, then they came for memorial week to visit with me," Kraft said. "Then he called me once a week for the whole year, the most depressing year of my life when I was down and out. He called me every week to see how I was doing, invited me to things, tried to lift my spirits. He was one of five or six people that were like that. I remember that."

Kraft attended the Inauguration in Washington, and Trump praised Kraft during a black-tie dinner the night before he was sworn in as the 45th President. Trump also said Brady called him to wish him luck before he was sworn in (something Brady declined to discuss). Belichick also sent Trump a letter of support before the election in the fall.

Trump had no plans to attend the Super Bowl as of last Monday, according to The Boston Globe. If he does show up, he will make history. No sitting president has ever attended the game.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.