Nationals baseball player Kurt Suzuki surprised President Trump by taking out a "Make America Great Again" hat during the White House ceremony celebrating the team's World Series victory on Monday.
"In the bottom of the ninth you scored seven runs — I do remember that well — including an amazing three-run homer by Kurt Suzuki," Trump said, asking team catcher Suzuki to say a few words.
When Suzuki stepped up to the podium to speak at the event, he put on the iconic red hat, prompting Trump to hug him.
"I love you all. I love you all. Thank you," Suzuki said.
"Mr. President, me and my teammates — first of all, we would like to thank you for having us here. This is an incredible honor that I think all of us will never forget. And we would also like to thank you for keeping everyone here safe in our country and continuing to make America the greatest country to live in the world," first baseman Ryan Zimmerman also told Trump.
Trump was presented with a Nationals jersey with his name and the number 45 on it.
Some on Twitter were angry and disappointed that Suzuki wore a MAGA hat at the event.
Putting on a “MAGA” hat is a form of racist hate speech and an implicit threat of violence. Kurt Suzuki should be banned from baseball. If you don’t like this tweet, fuck you.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 4, 2019
kurt suzuki undoing all the good will his last name earned being included in verses during the golden age of hip-hop
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) November 4, 2019
Not gonna lie: having spent the past decade cheering on the Nats and the last several months obsessed w/ their playoff journey, it's pretty heartbreaking to see Kurt Suzuki and company go far beyond polite reception and cozying up to a monster who hates people like me.
— Charlotte Clymer?????? (@cmclymer) November 4, 2019
Kurt Suzuki went full Curt Schilling today.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) November 4, 2019
Pathetic https://t.co/Et195Nl3Rw
— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) November 4, 2019