To say there’s a disconnect between baseball’s World Champion Nationals and the team’s fans is an understatement.
It’s also clear that there’s a disconnect between the National’s catcher Kurt Suzuki and the AAPI community.
When Donald Trump went to Game 5 of the World Series at the National’s ballpark, he was greeted with an overwhelming wall of boo’s and chants of “Lock him up!” from the fans at the game.
When Suzuki and most of the rest of the team visited the White House and greeted by Trump, the 36-year old player donned a MAGA hat. Trump was so overjoyed with Suzuki that he couldn’t help himself and awkwardly hugged the Japanese American from behind.
But I am even more embarrassed that Suzuki thought that his invitation to the White House was a chance to joke around, when countless numbers people are enduring very real, material harm at the hands of this administration.
— Reappropriate (@reappropriate) November 5, 2019
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The Hawaii-born Suzuki seems surprised at the blowback against his act, which many people viewed as a show of support for a man whose racist policies.
“Everybody makes everything political. It was about our team winning the World Series,” Suzuki told USA Today.
“It was amazing,” Suzuki told USA Today via text message. “That was the president. Just trying to have some fun.
Suzuki protected his Twitter account after the day’s events.
Suzuki’s “fun” overshadowed the absence of eight players who chose not to attend the White House affair.
Sean Doolittle, a relief pitcher, said last week he wouldn’t go to the White House because of Trump’s policy decisions and rhetoric, including his mocking of a disabled reporter. Anthony Rendon, Joe Ross, Wander Suero, Wilmer Difo, Michael A. Taylor, Victor Robles, Raudy Read, Tres Barrera and Roenis Elías did not give reasons for their absences; Javy Guerra said he was preparing for his wedding, per the Washington Post.
(Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed MVP Stephen Strasburg as one of those not attending the White House celebration. We apologize for the error).
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