Trump’s attendance at the 41,000-seat stadium in Southeast would mark a rare time he has ventured into the District’s entertainment and nightlife scene, other than his occasional visits to the Trump hotel a few blocks from the White House. It could also mean increased security restrictions at the ballpark for what is expected to be a capacity crowd.



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The Nationals lead the Astros 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday night and Game 4 on Saturday, both in Washington. The Nationals would have to lose at least one of those games for there to be a Game 5 on Sunday.

Trump made his remarks while presenting auto racing icon Roger Penske with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, in the Oval Office.

Trump could face a mixed reaction from the crowd, including the potential of boos. In 2006, then-Vice President Richard Cheney threw out the first pitch at the Nationals’ second season in Washington, at RFK Stadium, and was booed at a time when there was growing public opposition to the war in Iraq.

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“He’s the president of this country. If he want to come to the game, it’s something that he want to do,” Nationals pitcher Anibal Sanchez said. “Of course everybody has to respect that situation.”

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Trump has attended at least four sporting events since taking office.

He stood on the field for the national anthem at the college football national championship game in January 2018, at a time when he was publicly criticizing former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for having knelt during the anthem in protest of police tactics in minority communities. Trump left at halftime and missed the thrilling finish in Alabama’s overtime victory against Georgia. He also attended the Army-Navy football game later that year in Philadelphia.

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He also handed out a trophy at the President’s Cup golf tournament in 2017 and watched a Grand Sumo tournament in Tokyo during a state visit to Japan this past spring.