President Donald Trump arrived in New York on Thursday, making his way to Yankee Stadium where fans greeted him enthusiastically, chanting “USA! USA!” as he appeared ahead of the team’s 9/11 anniversary matchup.
Before walking onto the field to meet the crowd, Trump stopped in the Yankees’ clubhouse. There he praised the Steinbrenner family, calling them “a great family,” and spent time with players and staff.
“It’s a great family. [Team president] Randy [Levine] is wonderful, and I will say, you’re gonna win. George used to for some reason, I don’t know what it was, we won every time I came. Every time I came, we’d win a game. If you think that was easy, sitting with him for a game, it wasn’t. It was brutal. We were exhausted at the end. But we won, and you’re going to win. You’re gonna go all the way. Can you get in the playoff? I think. How about tonight, we start tonight, and you’re gonna do well.
“Randy was telling me the Boston Red Sox came to the Oval Office. They wanted to come. What am I gonna do? Say no? And they won 15 games in a row. I just want to wish you guys a lot of luck. You’re great players. I know every one of you.”
The reception in the stadium was warm, with fans erupting into chants of “USA!” soon after his arrival.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his own anticipation about the visit. He described the moment as meaningful and said he was glad to take part. “Had the honor and fortune of some presidents over the years, first pitches or whatever it may be,” Boone said. “So the fact that he’s gonna be here, I’m excited to be a part of. I don’t know what it’ll be like, but to interact with him for a few minutes, something I’m looking forward to.”
Fox News reported that before Trump entered the stadium, the scoreboard replayed highlights from the 2001 World Series, which saw the Yankees face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although the Diamondbacks ultimately clinched the championship in Game 7, the Yankees’ victories in Games 4 and 5 became iconic, both ending in walk-off wins less than two months after the September 11th attacks.
Earlier in the day, the Yankees hosted a memorial ceremony marking 9/11. Manager Aaron Boone, alongside pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, placed a wreath at the 9/11 monument located in Monument Park, a historic part of Yankee Stadium.
{Matzav.com}
