In a show of optimism during unprecedented times, President Trump announced his intention to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 15.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday after prepared remarks that included the revelation that the Republican Party will cancel its in-person convention in Jacksonville, Florida, Trump said New York Yankees President Randy Levine had asked him to throw out the honorary first pitch to an empty stadium.
“I think I’m doing that on Aug. 15 at Yankee Stadium,” he said. “And I say, ‘How’s the crowd going to be?’ And, you know, it’s like you don’t have a crowd.”
“We have to all set examples. I think Major League Baseball is setting an example by playing to empty stadiums, and so are other sports, you see that,” Trump added. “The key is to get back to normal because nobody wants to see this, but I think it’s really good that baseball is opening. It looks like football is opening. … It’s a tremendous thing psychologically for our country.”
The announcement comes as Major League Baseball restarts games Thursday evening. Former pitcher Mariano Rivera joined Trump at the White House for a scheduled event with Little League Baseball players in the Rose Garden following the press conference.
Trump, who was fiercely booed when he attended a Washington Nationals game in October, has never thrown out the first pitch at a baseball game while president, and the event will mark his first participation in a long tradition in which many previous presidents have taken part.
How successful the league will be in finishing the season remains to be seen as Washington Nationals star Juan Soto tested positive hours before the team’s first game on Thursday, signaling a precarious situation that could possibly turn south as players and staff reboot the season. Dr. Anthony Fauci is set to throw the opening pitch at the Nationals game.
