Aaron Judge Reflects on Memorable Meeting with Trump During Yankees Game

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge expressed excitement after a notable game against the Detroit Tigers, where he hit two home runs, tying Joe DiMaggio for fourth place in the franchise's history.

Following the Yankees' 9-3 victory on September 11, Judge described the experience of having former President Donald Trump in the clubhouse as “a surreal moment.”

“He came in here and told us we were going to win, which I think gave everybody the confidence to go out there and do it,” Judge remarked, suggesting that Trump's presence could be beneficial for the team in the future. “I guess we’ve got to have him around more often.”

Trump, who visited the clubhouse before the game, reminisced about his past experiences with the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, stating, “You think that was easy, sitting with him for a game? It wasn’t. It was brutal. You were exhausted at the end.”

During his visit, Trump expressed optimism about the Yankees' chances of winning their first World Series since 2009, declaring that they “would go all the way.”

Seated behind security glass in an upper-level suite, Trump was featured on the stadium screens multiple times throughout the game, eliciting mixed reactions from fans. In the second inning, he appeared as “Hail to the Chief” played, and later joined in on the fun during “YMCA,” though he remained seated while spelling out the letters with his arms.

As reported, Trump departed during the seventh inning, marking his attendance as part of the commemoration of the September 11 attacks. Judge acknowledged the significance of the day, stating, “We all know where we were during that time. Getting us all together and showing we’re unified and we’re strong reflects the strength this city and country showed during something like this.”

In a postgame interview with YES Network, Judge highlighted the importance of wearing hats representing the NYPD and FDNY during the game. “We’re wearing the hats of those that went out there when it was the darkest hour,” he said. “They went right into danger to save people they didn’t even know. It’s more than a game; it’s more than a win or a loss. This is a special moment we got to share out here.”