President Donald Trump recently renewed his call for Roger Clemens’ induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, citing Clemens’ career achievements and criticizing Hall of Fame voters. In a Truth Social post on Thursday, August 27, Trump highlighted Clemens’ 354 wins, seven Cy Young Awards, and three World Series appearances, two of which resulted in victories. Trump also noted that Clemens was not convicted of or admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Trump’s comments come as Major League Baseball enters the final weeks of its regular season, with labor talks between the league and the MLB Players Association reportedly stalled. The current agreement is set to expire on December 1, and a lockout could occur if a new deal is not reached. Reports indicate a fundamental disagreement over the league’s pursuit of a salary cap system, which the union opposes.
This is not the first time Trump has weighed in on Clemens’ Hall of Fame candidacy. Almost exactly one year ago, on August 24, he publicly supported Clemens after playing golf with the former pitcher and his son, Kacy. Clemens responded on X, expressing appreciation for the support and referencing what he called fake news.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed Trump’s potential involvement in labor negotiations during MLB All-Star weekend in July. Manfred stated it would be inappropriate to speculate on the President’s actions but acknowledged Trump’s interest and knowledge of the business of sports. Trump also criticized Manfred, claiming the commissioner had promised to reinstate Pete Rose but waited until after Rose’s death in 2024 to do so. Manfred announced last year that Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson would be reinstated, making them eligible for Hall of Fame consideration. Trump concluded his remarks by questioning the overall state of baseball.
Clemens’ 10-year eligibility on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot ended in 2022. He received 65.2% of the votes in his final year, falling short of the 75% threshold required for election.
