Trump says he'll give Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom: 'This supersedes anything I've done', tell me about this news today

Donald Trump Awards Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom

During a rally in San Antonio, Texas, Donald Trump announced that he plans to award former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitching legend Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

The Announcement and Reactions

Trump invited the seven-time Cy Young Award winner onto the stage, praising him as “maybe the greatest pitcher of all time” and arguing that the Baseball Hall of Fame has unfairly kept him out. Trump stated: “Forget about the Hall of Fame… he deserves it”, before announcing the civilian honor.

A stunned Clemens addressed the crowd directly:

“Well, I’m stunned, number one… This supersedes anything that obviously I’ve done in my playing career, and to get it from this man, this president, there wouldn’t be another president I’d want to get it from.”

Background and Context

• Baseball Credentials: Over a 24-season MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros, Clemens racked up 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts, and two World Series titles.

• The Hall of Fame Controversy: Despite historic career statistics, Clemens has been excluded from the National Baseball Hall of Fame due to longstanding allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) during the steroid era, including allegations in the 2007 Mitchell Report. Clemens has consistently denied using illegal PEDs.

• The Presidential Medal of Freedom: Established in 1963, the medal recognizes individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural endeavors. Trump previously awarded the medal to several athletic figures, including Mariano Rivera, Tiger Woods, and Babe Ruth (posthumously).