Trump criticizes MLB during Inter Miami White House celebration

The celebration focused on the football team, but President Donald Trump was talking about baseball at the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Specifically, his frustration with the current MLB product.

Trump was in charge of Inter Miami CF, the 2025 MLS Cup champions alongside world soccer legend Lionel Messi, when he decided to wade into the conversation.

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“I love sports and I was watching my friend A-Rod and George Steinbrenner – we were sitting in his box together,” Trump said, looking at Alex Rodriguez who was sitting to his left in the crowd. Rodriguez appeared at the White House for a separate event, as Trump said he told him to come to the MLS celebration.

“He wouldn’t have anybody but me,” Trump continued, referring to New York Yankees owner Steinbrenner. “He loved me, didn’t he? He loved me, he loved you. He loved almost no one.”

After that, Trump took a shot at MLB today, a product he doesn’t like.

“It could be the World Series when baseball is hot — not so hot now, I’ll be honest with you. They’re doing the wrong things,” Trump said, though he didn’t elaborate. But when baseball was hot as hell, I stayed [with Steinbrenner] and I was watching the Yankees. They will have 30 seats, and it will be just me and him.”

The lack of explanation from Trump can lead to speculation as to why he doesn’t like the game today, but there are debates about the game and how MLB runs its product.

Donald Trump, at the behest of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, speaks at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tampa’s Steak ‘N’ Burger annual benefit at the Downtown Hyatt in Tampa, Florida, Aug. 19, 1988. (Victor Junco/St. Petersburg Times)

Among them are large markets compared to small markets, as the wage earners continue to rise without average wages. The Los Angeles Dodgers are a good example, as their spending continued this offseason after defending their World Series title in a thrilling seven-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays last season.

But while the Dodgers have the league’s highest revenue ($396 million), the New York Mets ($368.66M), Yankees ($325.82M) and Philadelphia Phillies ($311.18M) are not far behind. But against teams like the Miami Marlins ($78.11M), Cleveland Guardians ($94.75M) and Washington Nationals ($102.41M), the talent gap can sometimes lead to lost games.

MLB has an important year left, as that could change if the salary cap is used in collective bargaining agreements. But it doesn’t appear the MLB Players’ Association wants a shutdown, which could lead to heated negotiations and a possible deadlock with the current CBA set to expire at the end of the year.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also visited the White House in April 2025, where he and Trump discussed baseball-related issues. Manfred’s arrival in the nation’s capital came after Trump said he would pardon the late Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time hits leader, when he criticized the league for barring him from the Hall of Fame because of gambling.

US President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Inter Miami CF in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, Thursday, March 5, 2026. Inter Miami CF visited the White House to celebrate their victory in the 2025 championship. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg)

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Rose was posthumously removed from MLB’s permanent ineligibility list in May 2025, allowing him to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

Before the MLB begins its 2026 season, the World Baseball Classic will be held as the games begin. Team USA, which has enjoyed its best lineup, will begin its tournament on Friday in Houston against the Brazilian team.

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