President Trump will award Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the nation’s highest civilian honor — in a ceremony at the White House on Monday afternoon.
Rivera, who retired from the Bronx Bombers in 2013 after a 19-year career and became the first player unanimously selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2019, serves as co-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and took part in the White House Sports and Fitness Day in May 2018.
Rivera, baseball’s all-time saves leader, spoke about his relationship with the president during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” in July.
“Mr. President Trump to me, he was a friend of mine before he became president,” Rivera said on the show. “So, because he’s president I will turn my back on him? No. I respect him. I respect what he does and I believe he’s doing the best for the United States of America.”
Trump congratulated Rivera, a native of Panama who became a naturalized US citizen in 2015, when he was selected into the Hall of Fame.
”Congratulations to Mariano Rivera on unanimously being elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame! Not only a great player but a great person. I am thankful for Mariano’s support of the Opioid Drug Abuse Commission and @FitnessGov. #EnterSandman #HOF2019,” the president wrote on his Twitter page.
The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m.
Trump has awarded a number of athletes the Medal of Freedom, including basketball legends Bob Cousy and Jerry West and golfer Tiger Woods.
