Trump Visits Yankee Stadium, Praises Yankees in Clubhouse as Aaron Judge Hits Early Homers; Yankees Beat Tigers 9-3
On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, President Trump greeted fans and players at Yankee Stadium and predicted a Yankees victory before New York routed Detroit
President Donald Trump attended Thursday’s New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, offered a short pep talk to players in the clubhouse and was greeted with cheers and some boos from the crowd as the Yankees rolled to a 9-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Trump told Yankees gathered in the clubhouse, "You're gonna win. You're gonna go all the way," and singled out slugger Aaron Judge, saying, "You're a fantastic player. … You're an unbelievable player." Judge, who shook the president's hand in the clubhouse, homered in the bottom of the first — his 45th of the season — and added a second home run two innings later.
The president watched from the Steinbrenner family suite behind multiple panes of bulletproof glass. He was formally recognized over the public-address system in the second inning by announcer Paul Olden, who introduced him as "the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump," drawing a mixture of loud cheers, a smattering of boos and chants of "USA, USA" from the crowd. Trump also saluted the flag during the national anthem.
Trump shook hands with several players and signed at least one autograph in the clubhouse. A witness from the White House press pool said reliever Fernando Cruz was briefly in a towel when teammates urged him to get dressed before the president entered. Trump left the ballpark in the seventh inning after a period out of sight in the suite and was given a rousing send-off, with fans chanting, "Donald Trump! Donald!"
Security around the ballpark was heightened. The Yankees encouraged fans to arrive early because of the measures and the Post reported Secret Service agents positioned high in the stands and on nearby rooftops. The president was seated near team owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine. Several members of New York's congressional delegation, including Republican Reps. Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Nicole Malliotakis and Elise Stefanik, were spotted in the owner’s box with Trump. Administration officials at the game included Attorney General Pam Bondi, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.
The visit occurred on the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. During the seventh-inning stretch, Trump danced to "YMCA," and at least two Tigers players mimicked the movements after recording base hits. Conservative commentator Bill O'Reilly was also seen speaking with the president at the ballpark; O'Reilly later joked with reporters that he had nearly been detained while attempting to cross a barricaded street.
Judge's two homers provided an early offensive spark for New York. The Yankees built a lead and finished with a 9-3 victory over Detroit, a result the president had forecast in the clubhouse shortly before first pitch.
Trump departed the stadium after the seventh-inning rendition of "God Bless America." The visit, which combined a ceremonial recognition by the Yankees with an on-field appearance during a regular-season game, drew national attention amid heightened political and security scrutiny surrounding presidential public appearances.