Latest news with #WhiteHouseVisit
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Donald Trump's White House visit with struggling Boston Red Sox baffles baseball fans
The last time the Boston Red Sox visited Donald Trump 's White House was when the club was the reigning World Series champion back in May of 2019. On Thursday, with a record of just 43-45 entering a weekend series with the Washington Nationals, an entirely different group of Red Sox players were greeted by President Trump in the Oval Office. 'Why is a team that is 43-45 at the White House?' a fan asked in response to a White House video showing players shaking hands with Trump at the Resolute desk. The confusion was understandable. Typically, such White House visits are reserved for champions, and unless the sub-.500 Red Sox are supremely confident in their playoff chances, their presence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. was a bit presumptuous. But as it turns out, the Red Sox were not prematurely celebrating a tenth World Series title. Instead, 'the team participated in a tour of the White House as part of their family trip to DC this weekend,' a club spokeswoman told Daily Mail. It's unclear if players' parents were also on the tour, or who arranged the meet-and-greet opportunity on Thursday as the Red Sox spokeswoman did not respond to those specific questions. Regardless, Trump did get a laugh out of some members of the Red Sox roster. When Boston reliever Justin Wilson introduced himself, Trump joked: 'I know every one of you.' The President would get another chuckle from the crowd after receiving praise from another reliever. 'Great job,' Brennan Bernardino told Trump, who acted as if he expected the compliment. 'I know that,' the 79-year-old executive said, generating a few more giggles from players. Beyond the confusion over the players' presence in the Oval Office was the outrage among some Boston fans. 'We found a way to lose on an off day,' one remarked. 'Don't see why [manager Alex] Cora would let them go and see this guy,' one fan wondered. Cora and then-Red Sox star Mookie Betts both skipped Boston's White House trip in May of 2019 as the team was celebrating its 2018 title. However, Betts was on hand this April when he and the reigning-champion Los Angeles Dodgers visited Trump in Washington. 'Mookie Betts, aww is he good,' Trump said Monday before finding the 5-foot-9 former MVP on stage among his teammates. Trump went over and shook Betts hand before exchanging a few words and returning to the podium.
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Now That They're Champions, Will the Oklahoma City Thunder Kiss Trump's Ring?
In 2017 the sports world was pretty well united in using the White House visit as a pulpit of dissent. In breaking with tradition, no N.B.A. or W.N.B.A. team accepted an invitation from President Trump in his first term. The Oklahoma City Thunder, which won the championship on Sunday night, will be the first N.B.A. team in Mr. Trump's second term to face the question. With even higher stakes for the country, championship teams invited to the White House are faced with a question: Will they continue to dissent or get in line? For more than 60 years at the professional level, the highest collegiate levels, or the Olympics, winning titles or medals has come with a top honor: acknowledgment from the president. The ritual of the post-victory White House visit has existed in one form or another since the end of the Civil War. Calvin Coolidge honored the Washington Senators' 1924 World Series win. In 1963, John F. Kennedy, the Boston-Irish president, enthusiastically hosted the World Champion Boston Celtics. What was once an uncomplicated perk — win the title, hoist the trophy, meet the president — is no longer so simple. The first Trump presidency exposed the fractures of a broken country when several players and teams rejected the invitation, using the opportunity to express their feelings for Mr. Trump — and he responded by aiming his ire on them. Now, in his second term, in a climate of increased volatility and the president going on the offensive against his perceived enemies, the celebratory White House photo op has devolved into another weapon in a weaponized world. Eight years ago, in 2017, Mr. Trump publicly attacked N.F.L. players who took a knee during the national anthem to protest police violence, insulting them verbally and demanding that team owners kick the dissenting players out of the league. Months later, several members of the Super Bowl-winning Eagles responded to Mr. Trump by rejecting his White House invitation. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News24
25-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
What's in City Press: Behind the scenes of Cyril's White House visit
SA's visit to the White House: Where was Mcebisi Jonas? SA's newly appointed special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, was conspicuously absent during President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the White House earlier this week. We're gambling our money away, even social grants More and more residents in SA, including the poor who receive social grants, are turning to online gambling and sports betting. SARS wants MaMkhize's bodyguard to testify at tax inquiry More woes are piling up for troubled businesswoman Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize, with the revenue collector now dragging one of her closest associates to give evidence against her at the ongoing inquiry into her unpaid taxes. The day Ramaphosa's spine of an eel served SA well Contrary to what critics might say, President Cyril Ramaphosa did well to visit the White House and did well to control his temper even under the most extreme provocation, writes Mondli Makhanya Speaker blows R6.5m on two luxury cars Limpopo legislature speaker Makoma Makhurupetje has allegedly spent more than R6 million of taxpayers' money in under seven months on two expensive luxury cars. Pupil crashes teacher's car after taking it for a joyride The vehicle of a teacher from Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape was severely damaged after one of the Grade 11 pupils, who were supposed to wash it, drove it through the town without her permission and ended up in a water canal. With only a week left before the current lottery operating licence expires, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is expected to announce the Sizekhaya Consortium as the new lotto operator to replace Ithuba. Matjhabeng EPWP scandal: 'Politically connected' score R65k salaries while youth are shut out Allegations of rampant abuse of the expanded public works programme (EPWP) have rocked the Free State's Matjhabeng Local Municipality, with claims that politically connected individuals are earning more than R60 000 a month under a programme meant to lift unemployed and low-income South Africans out of poverty. PSL refutes MaMkhize's claims that Royal AM were unfairly expelled The PSL has rejected beleaguered businesswoman Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize's proposition that her club, Royal AM's expulsion from the league was procedurally unfair. Internet-famous 'doctor Mattew' demands R2m for unlawful arrest Controversial social media content creator, Matthew Lani, who was once an admired, famous 'young doctor' on TikTok, is demanding R2 million from the police minister for unlawful arrest. Court-ordered intervention in FS collapses amid council defiance and political obstruction. Efforts to place the Matjhabeng Local Municipality under administration, as ordered by the Free State High Court, have been derailed as internal political resistance and procedural issues stall the introduction of a provincial intervention team. Military veterans department is a 'playground for those who can't find jobs elsewhere' The department of military veterans is riddled with ANC appointments and the offspring of generals who cannot find work elsewhere. This is set out in a letter the SA National Military Veterans Association sent to Parliament's joint standing committee on defence. DA has a go at Johann Rupert over crime comments Senior DA officials have responded after business magnate Johann Rupert's statement at the White House that John Steenhuisen's party is struggling to get the murder rate on the Cape Flats under control. Ramaphosa's team discusses easing BEE barriers to entry for US companies President Cyril Ramaphosa, ahead of his departure for the US last week, asked Solly Malatsi, the minister of communication and digital technology, to expedite a policy guideline that could open the doors for Elon Musk's Starlink in SA. SA soldiers in DRC told to surrender weapons in Rwanda A soldier without a weapon is nothing more than a target. This is the sentiment expressed by SA troops stranded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), waiting for buses to evacuate them from the conflict-stricken region. BEE group, unions accuse Chinese mining company of acting in 'bad faith' Black empowerment group, the Kopanang Empowerment Company (KEC), is crying foul, alleging that its Chinese partner, Heaven-Sent SA Sunshine Investment Company, has gone behind its back and negotiated the sale of Kopanang Mine to China Africa Precious Metals (CAPM). Banyana coach Des Ellis is working without a contract - source Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis is allegedly working without a contract. A source told City Press that Ellis's contract expired in July 2022, at the last CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco. SA's delegation to Washington DC was initially caught off guard by President Donald Trump's request to invite golf legends, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, to join the country's delegation to the White House this week. 'Your p*** too' – then former Griquas star pummeled assistant coach Fists and crude insults flew on Monday afternoon between two rugby team coaches during a practice session at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. Kaizer Chiefs will start another campaign outside the lineup of the season-opening MTN8 tournament after they finished outside the top eight for the second time in a row. A high-stakes drama is unfolding in the ABC Motsepe League as accusations of fraud threaten to derail Highlands Park's promotion ambitions. Brothers Udeme Okon and Ime Okon have endured mixed fortunes in sport this season. While Udeme is basking in glory after helping Team SA to a 4x400m gold medal at the recent World Athletics Relays, his elder brother Ime's SuperSport United has struggled throughout the PSL campaign. Although there is nothing wrong with lodging protests, waiting until the last minute raises eyebrows.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Jalen Hurts breaks silence on Donald Trump snub after Eagles White House visit
Jalen Hurts has broken his silence after he missed the Eagles' White House visit last month. Hurts, Philly's Super Bowl MVP as they beat the Chiefs in February, was one of several Eagles players to skip out on meeting President Donald Trump because of 'scheduling conflicts' as NBC News's Yamiche Alcindor reported at the time. And this week, the quarterback expanded upon his decision to not attend the April 28 trip. 'I wasn't available,' he told reporters. 'I don't think that's pertinent. Everyone who went, and was available, they seemed to enjoy themselves.' Hurts was far from the only Eagles star to miss the trip, as the likes of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jalen Carter were also not in attendance. All told, NBC Sports' John Clark said that less than half of the team's starters were there. Hurts gave a pretty strong clue ahead of the White House visit that he would not be in attendance, as he was asked during an interview with TIME if he was planning on going to DC for the trip. His teammate Saquon Barkley spent time with President Trump before and during the visit 'Ermmmm,' he said before staying silent, prompting an abrupt and awkward end to the interview. Meanwhile, star running back Saquon Barkley, offensive lineman Lane Johnson and head coach Nick Sirianni were among those in attendance, as well as owner Jeffrey Lurie and chief security officer and senior advisor to the GM 'Big' Dom DiSandro. Barkley even spent time with Trump at his Trump National golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey during the weekend propr and traveled with the President on Marine One. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, who also attended, insisted beforehand that every player would be given the choice of whether to attend or not. 'Our culture is that these are optional things,' Lurie said. 'If you want to enjoy this, come along and we'll have a great time and if you don't, it is totally an optional thing.' The Eagles' visit to the White House this year comes after the team did not make the trip after winning Super Bowl LII 2018. That time, after defeating the Patriots, it had emerged that only a handful of players were planning to attend. Trump, then in his first term as president, proceeded to cancel the visit. The Eagles' hesitancy to attend in that instance came after Trump took aim at players who had protested during the national anthem, a group of players which included Eagles Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod. However, Trump enjoyed a more positive relationship with the league's players this past season, as the likes of Brock Bowers, Calvin Ridley and Nick Bosa did the 'Trump dance ' during games.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mason Rudolph visits White House during Steelers offseason — appearance goes viral
Mason Rudolph took a page out of the Philadelphia Eagles' playbook — as the Pittsburgh Steelers QB has gone viral over his White House visit — specifically, the photo he posted on social media. Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 The Fan brought the Instagram photo to light and noted that Rudolph seemingly received "the VIP treatment." Advertisement In the photo making waves, Rudolph is seen sitting next to a friend in a lavish room — adorned with gold from wall to wall, with paintings of past presidents hung behind them. The Steelers QB captioned his viral photo with just three words: "Off the clock." If Aaron Rodgers joins the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, Rudolph could find himself off the clock more often than not throughout the 2025 season. However, he is more than capable of stepping up to the challenge if needed — as evident from his heroic return to glory at the end of the Steelers' 2023 season. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers QB Mason Rudolph goes viral over White House visit
