It looks like another White House tradition is being destroyed under Trump.
Donald Trump is not going to throw out a ceremonial first pitch for the Washington Nationals this season, according to the Washington Post.
President William Howard Taft began the custom of U.S. presidents throwing out a first pitch on April 14, 1910, at National Stadium in D.C.
According to The Week:
“Since Taft, every president has thrown out at least one Opening Day first pitch. The executive guests of honor followed in Taft’s hefty footsteps, throwing the first ball from the stands, until the late 1980s when Ronald Reagan sauntered onto the mound and improved upon the tradition.”
Trump wants to be at the center of all events … yet for some reason he has refused every invitation to throw out the first pitch at an MLB game. https://t.co/oGg6OBrJMX [1] It's all the more baffling given his doctor's descriptions of how magnificently physically fit Trump is
— David Frum (@davidfrum) February 24, 2019 [2]
The most famous presidential pitch in recent memory is George W. Bush’s toss during the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Twitter had some thoughts:
.@realDonaldTrump [3] has yet to throw out a first pitch because he knows it'd be THE most embarrassing, humiliating moment in professional sports history. Hey #Trump [4]…so there's the challenge. I dare ya. I DARE you to step on a baseball diamond. Talk about a #NationalEmergency [5]… https://t.co/SQ3RcRvWtb [6]
— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) February 25, 2019 [7]
Could it be he throws like a girl?????
— Claire N Barnes, MA (@ClaireNBarnes) February 24, 2019 [8]
He’d have no control over a baseball crowd. He’d never put himself in a situation like that where he & his aides can’t control the crowd. He’d never risk being booed on national live television.
— Katie Rosa (@K_Rosa17) February 24, 2019 [9]
And check out this amazing thread from Hillary Clinton advisor Philippe Reines, showing each president throwing out the first pitch, except for one particular “president” who has bone spurs and is orange:
44 pic.twitter.com/ZPbAILVNk5 [10]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [11]
43 pic.twitter.com/fYnVoPbhkl [12]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [13]
42 pic.twitter.com/neuAcAcV4P [14]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [15]
41 pic.twitter.com/tJI3ALa1Z9 [16]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [17]
40 pic.twitter.com/pmukwWvg2f [18]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [19]
39 pic.twitter.com/srOclVQ0AT [20]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [21]
38 pic.twitter.com/tpTGWlgeaS [22]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [23]
37 pic.twitter.com/2A861giWVy [24]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [25]
36 pic.twitter.com/YanG8ayIEN [26]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [27]
35 pic.twitter.com/KAB7rzcnvy [28]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [29]
34 pic.twitter.com/2EGbMpkgWs [30]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [31]
33 pic.twitter.com/3OVDMIWXYQ [32]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [33]
32 pic.twitter.com/a0w7Z7AV0T [34]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [35]
31 pic.twitter.com/sVfPp3MJii [36]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [37]
30 pic.twitter.com/q1Rwqz2gnk [38]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [39]
29 pic.twitter.com/eVidJJAyIj [40]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [41]
pic.twitter.com/oHTW7cTeZ4 [42]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [43]
27 pic.twitter.com/emLyVKBTIH [44]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [45]
0* pic.twitter.com/Lss7henFTy [46]
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) April 5, 2018 [47]