New York (tca/dpa) – He got a friendlier reaction in Georgia than Washington, D.C.
Former president Donald Trump attended Game 4 of the World Series at Truist Park near Atlanta on Saturday night.
Whether Trump was invited first or not, he and his wife Melania were definitely there, and joined the home fans in the Tomahawk Chop.
Despite widespread condemnation by Native Americans and many others, both the Braves name and the Tomahawk Chop have remained fixtures at Atlanta baseball games. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred backed the taunt and the name earlier this week.
Atlanta fans cheered for the 45th president when he was seen. It was a stark contrast to the loud boos Trump got in Washington, D.C. from Nationals fans during the 2019 World Series.
The Astros, who appeared in both Series, have not had the chance to host Trump. But they did win the last game he attended, Game 5 in 2019, and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning Saturday.
Earlier Saturday, Trump claimed he was invited to the game by Major League Baseball and Yankees president Randy Levine. However, MLB said Trump initiated the plan.
Wednesday, before the invitation kerfuffle, Atlanta’s CEO Terry McGuirk said Trump reached out and asked if he could come, USA Today reported. The team set aside a suite at Truist Park for Trump and his guests, McGuirk said.
In Cobb County, the Atlanta suburb where Truist Park sits, Trump got 42 per cent of the vote in 2020. President Joe Biden got 56 per cent.
By Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News