As Dr. Anthony Fauci prepared to launch the first pitch of the MLB season, President Donald Trump gave him some news on baseball.
Trump announced in the middle of a COVID-19 press conference last Thursday that he had been invited to throw the first pitch in a game for the New York Yankees. He would do so on August 15, a date when rival Boston Red Sox visited Yankees Stadium.
The announcement, it turns out, made news for the Yankees, according to a New York Times report released Monday.
Report: Trump’s announcement ‘shocked’ the Yankees
From Monday’s Times report:
“There was a problem: Mr. Trump had not been invited that day by the Yankees, according to a person with knowledge of Mr. Trump’s schedule. His announcement surprised both Yankees officials and White House staff. “
But Trump had told reporters that he received the invitation directly from Yankees President Randy Levine, a former Trump advocate who was once rumored to be a candidate to serve as his chief of staff.
“Randy Levine is a great friend of mine to the Yankees,” Trump said Thursday, taking a break from discussing our national and global health crisis. “He asked me to shoot the first pitch. And I think I will do it on August 15 at Yankees Stadium. ”
The Levine Yankees did not contest Trump. A Yankees spokesman said the first pitch was activated, according to NJ.com.
Trump ‘upset’ by Fauci’s launch plans
Approximately 90 minutes later, Fauci released the first unfortunate pitch that fell short and went off the plate to open the MLB season. Fauci, not Trump, had been invited to pitch the field that also served as a celebration of the Washington Nationals when they opened their defense of the World Series title in the nation’s capital.
Some viewed the invitation as a snub for Trump, whose White House had criticized and attempted to discredit Fauci and his divergent approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci urged caution, while the White House urged companies to reopen when the United States became the epicenter of the global crisis.
According to the Times, Trump was really agitated. And he wanted a first release of his own after avoiding the presidential tradition throughout his time in office.
From the Times report:
“But Mr. Trump had been so upset by Dr. Fauci’s turn in the limelight, said an official familiar with his reaction, who had ordered his aides to call Yankees officials and follow through on an offer. Levine’s permanent to launch an opening pitch. No date was ever finalized. “
Unfortunately, the Yankees were not forced to fight to accommodate the President. On Sunday, Trump announced that he would not, in fact, launch the first release on August 15 and promised “to do it later in the season!”
Here you are guessing that the Yankees are not holding their collective breath.
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