President Trump recently met with baseball legend Alex Rodriguez in the Oval Office, posing for a photo that is quite different from how the two have interacted in the past. The picture, shared on X, showed the two seated and smiling, captioned “President @realDonaldTrump x @AROD.” This is a notable image, given Trump’s very public criticism of the MLB star in earlier years.
Just a few years ago, Trump repeatedly called Rodriguez a “druggie” and a “joke.” In 2012, he wrote on social media that “it was only drugs that made [Rodriguez] great.” A year later, Trump tweeted, “Druggie @AROD is now scheming to sue the @Yankees. He will go down as the biggest sports embarrassment of all time.”
Rodriguez, a World Series champion and 14-time All-Star, has openly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, which caused a major scandal during his playing career. He also filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Yankees’ physician in 2013, claiming a misdiagnosis of a hip injury, though he dropped the suit a year later. Beyond baseball, Rodriguez holds an ownership stake in the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
The meeting is surprising given Rodriguez’s past support for Biden and Trump’s past attacks on him
The exact details of what Trump and Rodriguez discussed are not clear. What makes the meeting more interesting is that Rodriguez had supported Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign against Trump. Trump has not shied away from voicing strong opinions about sports figures and judges in recent times. Rodriguez was also seen speaking with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House during the same visit.
During his welcoming remarks to MLS champions at the White House, Trump also shared his thoughts on the current state of Major League Baseball. He said baseball is not “as hot” as it used to be, and the numbers support that view. The 1978 World Series between the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers averaged 44.2 million viewers per game.
By comparison, the same two teams facing off in the 2024 World Series drew only 15.1 million viewers per game, which is a significant drop in audience over the decades. Not every athlete has been eager to accept a White House invitation, as seen when a Team USA star declined a presidential invite that most would consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Trump also spoke fondly about his friendship with the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who passed away in 2010. He recalled their relationship with a memorable quote, saying, “[Steinbrenner] liked me, I liked him and we both liked nobody else.”
The Oval Office meeting between Trump and Rodriguez is a clear example of how quickly things can change in public life and politics, especially considering the sharp and very public criticism Trump directed at Rodriguez not too long ago.
Published: Mar 7, 2026 11:15 am