President Donald Trump will brave the boo birds to attend Game 5 of the World Series featuring the Washington Nationals _ but won't throw out the first pitch.
Perhaps seeking to avoid an attention-grabbing display of his unpopularity in the nation's capital, Trump says he will arrive at the game after it is underway Sunday evening and will beat the traffic by leaving early.
Instead of Trump, celebrity chef Jose Andres, a prominent critic of the president's policies on immigration and other issues, will toss out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Nationals owner gave Trump a less-than-rousing welcome, saying the president has "every right to come" to the game.
"He's the president of the United States whether you like him or not," said Mark Lerner, the team's owner. "It's a special event. He should be at it."
It's a presidential tradition to throw out the first pitch of a World Series game but Trump may want to avoid giving a platform to his critics, especially when the impeachment battle has riled up opponents.
It's unclear if the Nationals management was trying to send a message to Trump by tapping Andres to toss the first pitch.
Andres, a prominent Washington restaurant owner and humanitarian, has repeatedly opposed the administration's response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Four years ago, Andres withdrew from plans to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel in Washington following Trump's controversial comments about Mexican immigrants during the presidential campaign.
