Aaron Judge homers minutes after shaking hands with President Trump at Yankee Stadium
Judge greeted the president in the clubhouse before launching his 45th home run of the season
Aaron Judge hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium minutes after shaking hands with President Donald Trump in the New York Yankees’ clubhouse.
The long ball, Judge’s 45th of the season, traveled an estimated 413 feet to left field and gave New York a 1-0 lead. The meeting with the president took place less than an hour before first pitch as Trump visited the Bronx to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in Manhattan.
Trump was greeted by members of the Yankees in their clubhouse before the game. Video and photographs from the visit show the president speaking briefly with players; Judge was among those who shook the president’s hand and exchanged a short greeting, telling Trump, “It’s good to meet you,” according to accounts from the clubhouse.
The home run came in the first inning and provided an immediate advantage for New York. Judge’s blast to left field was measured at roughly 413 feet and put the Yankees ahead 1-0, marking one of the latest milestones in a season in which he has been a primary power source for the club.
The president’s appearance in the Bronx followed events in lower Manhattan commemorating the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The visit to Yankee Stadium was part of the president’s itinerary in New York on Thursday and included a brief stop with the team before the Tigers-Yankees matchup.
Photographs from the clubhouse and the field captured both the handshake and Judge’s swing during the first inning, underscoring how the brief interaction preceded the slugger’s immediate on-field contribution.
Manager and team officials did not provide additional comment on the interaction beyond acknowledging the president’s short visit to the clubhouse. The Yankees entered Thursday’s game seeking to continue a competitive stretch of the season; Judge’s early home run supplied an immediate scoring edge for New York.
Judge’s day, and the brief clubhouse encounter, drew attention because of the timing on the Sept. 11 anniversary and because of Judge’s stature as one of baseball’s premier hitters. The game against Detroit continued after the early scoring play, with the remainder of the matchup proceeding under the normal course of play.
No further developments regarding the interaction or its aftermath were reported by team officials during the game coverage. Photographs and brief video clips of the handshake and the home run were circulated by media covering the event at Yankee Stadium.