Trump Criticizes Modern MLB at White House Event

Former president says baseball 'isn't as hot' and the league 'does things wrong'

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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During a White House event honoring the 2025 MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to criticize the current state of Major League Baseball. Trump, who has long been a vocal supporter of the sport, lamented that baseball 'isn't as hot as it used to be' and that the league 'does things wrong' without elaborating further.

Why it matters

Trump's comments highlight the ongoing debates around the direction of MLB, including issues like the growing payroll disparity between large and small market teams, as well as the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations between the league and players' union. As a prominent public figure, Trump's criticism could add fuel to the fire as MLB looks to address these challenges and improve the overall fan experience.

The details

During the event, Trump reminisced about his friendship with former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, with whom he would watch Yankees games in Steinbrenner's box. Trump then took a shot at the current state of MLB, saying 'It would be a World Series when baseball was hot - it's not as hot now, I'll be honest with you. They do things wrong.' The former president did not provide specifics on what he believes the league is doing wrong.

  • The White House event honoring the 2025 MLS Cup champion Inter Miami CF took place on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • Trump's previous comments criticizing MLB and calling for the reinstatement of Pete Rose were made in April 2025.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who has been a longtime supporter of baseball and has previously criticized the direction of Major League Baseball.

Alex Rodriguez

Former MLB player and a friend of Trump's, who was also present at the White House event.

George Steinbrenner

The late owner of the New York Yankees, who Trump says he would watch games with in Steinbrenner's box.

Rob Manfred

The current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, who visited the White House in April 2025 to discuss issues pertaining to the sport.

Pete Rose

MLB's all-time hits leader, who was posthumously removed from the league's permanently ineligible list in May 2025, allowing him to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

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What they’re saying

“I love sports and I watched my friend A-Rod with George Steinbrenner - we'd sit in his box just the two of us. He would never have anybody but me.”

— Donald Trump (Fox News)

“It would be a World Series when baseball was hot - it's not as hot now, I'll be honest with you. They do things wrong.”

— Donald Trump (Fox News)

What’s next

The upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations between MLB and the players' union will be a critical moment for the league as it looks to address issues like payroll disparity and improve the overall fan experience.

The takeaway

Trump's criticism of modern MLB highlights the ongoing debates around the direction of the sport, including concerns over the growing payroll gap between large and small market teams. As a prominent public figure, Trump's comments could add pressure on the league to address these challenges and find ways to make the game more appealing to fans.