ATLANTA — Months after calling for a boycott of Major League Baseball, former President Donald Trump cut a tomahawk with Atlanta Braves fans in Game Four of the World Series Saturday night.
Trump stood by his wife Melania, cutting through the rows of fans before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros from a private stand.
Trump was expected to be joined by political allies, including US Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
Trump issued a statement in a mass email to his supporters on Saturday about his planned appearance at the World Championships:
“I am looking forward to participating in the World Championships in Atlanta tonight. Thanks to Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, and Randy Levine of the New York Yankees, for the invitation. Melania and I are looking forward to a great evening watching two great teams!”
MLB denied the invitation and said in a statement, “A request to attend the match.”
Levine is the head coach of the Yankees.
The visit to Truist Park provided an opportunity for Trump to be seen with Walker, a former University of Georgia Heisman Cup winner, and to return with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and USFL New Jersey.
Trump was owner of the Generals when Walker played for the team in the defunct league, and they maintained a relationship. Trump encouraged Walker to run for the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Walker on Wednesday. Walker seeks to impeach Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock.
Trump encouraged a boycott of MLB games after Manfred removed the All-Star Game from Atlanta. Instead, the game was held in Denver.
President Joe Biden supported moving the game, although some Braves fans and businesses near Trust Park complained that they were being unfairly punished.
Manfred’s decision was announced in April after a protest against Georgia’s new voting law, which includes a proof of identity requirement for voting by mail. Critics say the law will negatively affect communities of color.
Trump may have chosen Atlanta hoping for a more positive reception than he received in his last World Championship appearance. When he was still in office, he was booed as he sat in the stands at Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Astros and Washington in Nationals Park.
Trump did not appear on the Truist Park video board before the match.
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