© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

'Lock Him Up': Trump Greeted With Boos And Jeers At World Series Game 5

President Trump is introduced during Game 5 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Fans greeted Trump with boos and jeers, with some chanting "Lock him up."
Pablo Martinez Monsivais
/
AP
President Trump is introduced during Game 5 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Fans greeted Trump with boos and jeers, with some chanting "Lock him up."

Fresh off announcing the death of one of the world's most wanted terrorists, President Trump appeared at Game 5 of the World Series in Washington to find a crowd not eager to praise his achievement.

When Trump's attendance was announced and he was shown on the big screen at Nationals Park on Sunday night, baseball fans greeted the president with loud boos and jeers. Sections of the ballpark chanted "Lock him up" — a spin on Trump's refrain against Hillary Clinton that has remained common at his rallies, even after the 2016 presidential election.

Trump, standing next to first lady Melania Trump, appeared unperturbed by the din, smiling and clapping before moving to say something to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Later in the game, fans unfurled a "VETERANS FOR IMPEACHMENT" banner right behind home plate.

In a press conference before the game, Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Trump: "He's coming to the game. He's a fan. Hopefully he cheers for the Washington Nationals, and I hope he enjoys the game."

Asked if the Nationals wanted Trump there, Martinez said: "We haven't really talked about it. We're focusing on playing baseball."

The Nationals ended up getting walloped by the Houston Astros, 7-1. They now trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

It's rare to see Trump out in public in Washington, a Democratic stronghold in which just 4% of residents voted for Trump in the 2016 general election.

In a break with tradition, Trump did not throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday night, as is customary when a sitting president attends a baseball game.

While league officials said Trump said he was not interested in throwing the first pitch, citing concerns about slowing down thousands of fans entering the ballpark, Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner indicated that there were many other first pitch candidates who were considered before the president.

Last week, Trump told reporters that the bulletproof vest he would have to wear made the idea of tossing the ball from the mound unappealing.

"They gotta dress me up in a lot of heavy armor. I'll look too heavy. I don't like that," Trump said.

Chef José Andrés, an outspoken critic of Trump, throws the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5 of the World Series in Washington.
Jeff Roberson / AP
/
AP
Chef José Andrés, an outspoken critic of Trump, throws the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5 of the World Series in Washington.

Instead of the president, José Andrés, a Spanish-born chef and Washington restaurateur known for providing free emergency meals to victims of natural disasters as well as to furloughed federal workers through his organization World Central Kitchen, threw out the first pitch to stadium-wide applause.

Andrés has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, especially the president's hardline immigration policies.

In 2015, Andrés pulled out of a plan to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington after then-candidate Trump made disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants, calling them drug dealers and rapists as he campaigned.

On Sunday evening, Andrés thanked the Nationals and the MLB for inviting an immigrant to throw the first pitch.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Bobby Allyn is a business reporter at NPR based in San Francisco. He covers technology and how Silicon Valley's largest companies are transforming how we live and reshaping society.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content