Amid his growing impeachment crisis, Donald Trump has had another problem on his hands: He can’t get the presidential sports treatment right. Historically it’s been pretty straightforward. Teams win championships, they go to the White House, photo op, and break. In the case of Trump, Megan Rapinoe said, “I’m not going to the fucking White House.” LeBron James famously tweet-described Trump as “U bum.” In May, some members of the Boston Red Sox boycotted a White House visit.

So on Monday, when Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki showed up to the White House fresh off a World Series victory, it probably looked like a layup by normal standards. Trump implored Suzuki to say a few words, and not only did Suzuki enthusiastically agree, but he threw on a MAGA hat for the occasion. In the Trump sporting imagination, this, presumably, is how it’s always supposed to work after a team wins a championship. But perhaps because things haven’t typically gone that way in the past, Trump seemed surprised by the circumstances. The hug he gave Suzuki from behind was, well, confusing:

Just over the last week or so, Trump was booed at a Washington Nationals game and a UFC fight. By now, he could understandably be tempted to take a similar path as his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who, as his beloved New York Yankees’ postseason run began to peter out, at least appeared to trade his normal first-few-rows seat for a more discreet viewing location. Instead, Trump seems to be doubling down: Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that the University of Alabama is making preparations for Trump to attend its game on Saturday.

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