Trump, in a fit of anger, encourages a renowned MLB figure to file a lawsuit against baseball executives due to a drug controversy. Concurrently, he remains adamant in his insistence for the Hall of Fame induction.
In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has once again reiterated his call for the induction of MLB legend Roger Clemens into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemens, who had a 24-season career in the majors, played for teams such as the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Trump's advocacy for Clemens comes amidst a long-standing controversy surrounding the pitcher's alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs. In 2007, Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report, a 20-month investigation into steroid use in baseball. Former teammates Jose Canseco, Andy Pettitte, and Jason Grimsley, among others, claimed to have knowledge of Clemens's use of steroids.
Brian McNamee, former Yankees trainer, stated that he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998, 2000, and 2001. However, Clemens has always denied these allegations. In 2008, he was found not guilty of lying to Congress regarding steroid use.
Despite these scandals, Trump has been a consistent advocate for Clemens's induction. He has often compared Clemens's case to that of Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader. Rose was banned for life in 1989 for gambling on games but is now eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, following a ruling from current Commissioner Rob Manfred in May.
Manfred's decision to lift the lifetime ban handed down to Pete Rose by then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti in 1989 has been a topic of debate. Manfred admitted that President Trump's support of Rose influenced his decision. This has raised questions about the fairness of the Hall of Fame's decision-making process.
The Baseball Hall of Fame's Era Committee has repeatedly denied Clemens's induction due to allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. Trump has urged Clemens to sue baseball chiefs in light of this.
However, the late Pete Rose passed away at the age of 83 in September 2024, before he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Trump had previously called for Rose to be inducted posthumously, stating, "MLB needs to get off its fat, lazy ass, and elect Pete Rose posthumously to the Baseball Hall of Fame."
As the debate surrounding the induction of both Clemens and Rose continues, it remains to be seen how the Baseball Hall of Fame will respond to Trump's persistent advocacy.
