In a twist few saw coming, Pete Rose is finally off Major League Baseball’s permanently ineligible list. But the timing couldn’t be more bittersweet. The league lifted the ban months after Rose’s death, ending a decades-long standoff that kept baseball’s all-time hits leader out of the Hall of Fame.
That decision has lit a fire under Donald Trump. The president, long a vocal supporter of Rose, didn’t hold back. Trump blasted MLB’s timing, questioned its motives, and doubled down on his belief that Rose deserves a spot among baseball’s immortals.
Trump Calls Out MLB Over Rose Snub
Donald Trump, who issued a posthumous pardon for Rose in March, shared a scathing statement following the MLB’s move. “Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as ‘Charlie Hustle,’ into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” Trump wrote. “Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected.”
He didn’t stop there. Trump criticized the league for dragging its feet, calling the delay “a shame” and slamming what he sees as hypocrisy. “Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy [expletive], and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!”
Rose, a 17-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, received a lifetime ban in 1989 for betting on Reds games while managing the team. He never bet against his own team, a point Trump repeatedly emphasized. “He shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING,” he added.
Last month, Trump brought Rose’s name directly to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred during a private meeting. Manfred confirmed the conversation but kept details tight. “I met with President Trump two weeks ago… and one of the topics was Pete Rose, but I’m not going beyond that,” Manfred told reporters.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MLB stories via Google! Follow Us
Rose’s supporters have argued for years that his on-field legacy far outweighs his off-field mistakes. With the ban now lifted, Rose becomes eligible for Hall of Fame consideration- a door that remained shut throughout his lifetime.
Trump’s blunt remarks reflect a broader frustration among many fans who believe baseball took too long to act. Whether the Hall finally honors Rose remains to be seen, but the debate he sparked is far from over.
Also Read: MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Opens Up About Secret Talks With President Donald Trump
