Trump hugs Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki from behind after he wears red MAGA cap to White House celebration
President Donald Trump seemed absolutely elated when Kurt Suzuki, catcher of the Washington Nationals that won the World Series recently, sported a signature “Make America Great Again” hat. Suzuki wore it to the felicitation ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, November 4, that the former held for them.
On the podium, Trump invited Suzuki to say a few words and the latter, while stepping across the stage, donned the ‘MAGA’ hat which is a prominent symbol of Trump’s populist nationalism. It was no surprise that the Republican leader was glad to see it and as Suzuki took over the mic with his arms stretched out, the excited president was seen embracing the player from behind, grabbing at his chest. "I love you all. I love you all. Thank you," Suzuki told the cheering crowd.
“I love him! Awww, that’s so nice,” Trump said, also making it evident that he hadn’t expected it to happen. First Lady Melania Trump, who was also on the podium, was seen clapping and laughing. The picture took no time to go viral on Twitter and people came up with all sorts of responses towards Trump’s bizarre hug from behind.
The moment was also kind of Trump’s revenge against fans who recently booed him during Game 5 of the World Series between the Nationals and Houston Astros at Nationals Park. Trump, who was present at the Nationals Park, was even welcomed with the chantings of “Lock Him Up”. In 2017, when the year’s champions Astros went to meet Trump at the White House, second baseman Jose Altuve caught the headlines for his intense stare at the president standing in the back as he spoke. Two other players — Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran — skipped the occasion. Altuve even had an awkward handshake with Trump who had called him by his name at the gathering.
Though teams visiting the White House after winning championships has been a tradition for some time, it has also become politicized since Trump’s arrival in office.
'Was just trying to have some fun'
Suzuki later clarified his decision to wear the ‘MAGA’ hat saying he was “just trying to have some fun” at the White House ceremony with Trump. The 36-year-old told USA Today later in a text message: “It was amazing. That was the president. Just trying to have some fun.”
"Everybody makes everything political. It was about our team winning the World Series,” he also said in an apparent rebuttal to the critics.
On the occasion, Nationals’ first baseman Ryan Zimmerman presented a team jersey to Trump and applauded him for “keeping everyone safe” in the US and “continuing to make America the greatest country to live in the world”.