Trump criticizes MLB during Inter Miami celebration at White House

The celebration revolved around a football team, but President Donald Trump was talking baseball at the White House Thursday afternoon.

Specifically, his dissatisfaction with the current MLB product.

Trump was hosting 2025 MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF with global soccer legend Lionel Messi when he decided to introduce a little baseball into the conversation.

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“I love sports and I watched my friend A-Rod with George Steinbrenner. We were sitting in his box, just the two of us,” Trump said, looking at Alex Rodriguez who was sitting to his left in the crowd. Rodriguez appeared to be at the White House for a different occasion, as Trump mentioned that he told her to come to the MLS celebration.

“He would never have had anyone but me,” Trump continued of the legendary New York Yankees owner to Steinbrenner. “He liked me, didn’t he? He liked me, he liked you. He hardly liked anyone.”

Then Trump today launched into MLB, a product he doesn’t like.

“It would be a World Series when baseball was hot – it’s not as hot now, I’ll be honest with you. They’re doing it wrong,” Trump said, although he didn’t elaborate. “But when baseball was hot as a gun, I would sit [with Steinbrenner] and I would watch the Yankees. They would have 30 seats, and it would just be him and me.”

Trump’s lack of explanation can only lead to speculation about why he doesn’t like the sport today, but there are debates about the game and how MLB handles its product.

Donald Trump, at the request of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, speaks at Boys &; Girls Club of Greater Tampa Annual Steak ‘N’ Burger Benefit at the Downtown Hyatt in Tampa, Florida, August 19, 1988. (Victor Junco/St. Petersburg Times)

Among them, big markets are pitted against small markets, as payrolls continue to skyrocket without a salary cap. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the perfect example, as their spending spree continued this offseason after defending their World Series title in a thrilling seven-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays last season.

But while the Dodgers have the highest payroll in the league ($396 million), the New York Mets ($368.66 million), Yankees ($325.82 million) and Philadelphia Phillies ($311.18 million) aren’t far behind. But when facing teams like the Miami Marlins ($78.11 million), Cleveland Guardians ($94.75 million) and Washington Nationals ($102.41 million), the talent gap can sometimes lead to lopsided games.

MLB has a critical year ahead of it, however, as everything could change if a salary cap is implemented in collective bargaining negotiations. But it doesn’t appear at all that the MLB Players Association wants a cap, which could lead to tense negotiations and a possible lockout with the current CBA that expires at the end of the year.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also visited the White House in April 2025, where he and Trump discussed baseball-related issues. Manfred’s arrival in the nation’s capital came after Trump said he would pardon the late Pete Rose, MLB’s all-time leading rusher, while criticizing the league for excluding him from the Hall of Fame due to gambling.

US President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Inter Miami CF in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, United States, Thursday, March 5, 2026. Inter Miami CF visits the White House to celebrate winning the 2025 championship. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg)

Rose was posthumously removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list in May 2025, allowing him to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

Before MLB kicks off its 2026 season, the World Baseball Classic will take place while games have already started. Team USA, fielding one of its best teams ever, will begin its tournament Friday in Houston against Team Brazil.

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