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 champions Inter Miami CF, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to criticize the current state of Major League Baseball. Trump said baseball 'isn't as hot' as it used to be and that the league 'does things wrong', though he did not elaborate on his specific criticisms.

Why it matters

Trump's comments highlight ongoing debates around issues in MLB such as the growing payroll disparity between big and small market teams, as well as the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations between the league and players' union which could determine the future of the sport's economic model.

The details

While the event was meant to celebrate Inter Miami CF's MLS Cup win, Trump shifted the conversation to his past experiences watching baseball with former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Trump said he and Steinbrenner would sit alone in the owner's box to watch the Yankees play in what Trump described as the 'hot' days of baseball. However, Trump claimed the sport is no longer as popular, stating 'they do things wrong' without providing specifics.

  • The White House event honoring 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 former President of the United States who was hosting the White House event and shared his critical views on the current state of Major League Baseball.

Alex Rodriguez

The former MLB player who was seated next to Trump during the event, though it's unclear if he was there specifically for the Inter Miami CF celebration.

George Steinbrenner

The legendary former owner of the New York Yankees, who Trump said he would watch games with in the owner'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. He liked me, right? He liked me, he liked you. He liked almost nobody.”

— Donald Trump (foxnews.com)

“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 (foxnews.com)

What’s next

The upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations between MLB and the players' union will be a critical moment that could determine the future direction of the sport, including potential changes to address Trump's concerns about the league 'doing things wrong'.

The takeaway

Trump's criticisms of modern MLB highlight the ongoing debates around the sport's economic model and competitive balance, as well as the challenges the league faces in maintaining its popularity. The upcoming CBA negotiations will be a pivotal moment that could shape the future of the national pastime.