President Donald Trump's low-profile appearance at a World Series baseball game came at a high-profile moment of his presidency. Yet he still drew loud boos and jeers when introduced to the crowd.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wearing a dark suit and a tie, Trump arrived at Nationals Park just before the first pitch of the Houston Astros-Washington Nationals match-up.
Hours earlier, he had announced that US forces had assaulted the hiding place of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed in the raid in northeast Syria.
A military success against a most-wanted enemy of the US and its allies could have provided the president a rare moment of bipartisan comity, especially amid a divisive impeachment inquiry.
At the end of the third inning, ballpark video screens carried a salute to US service members that drew cheers throughout the stadium.
When the video cut to Trump and his entourage and the loudspeakers announced the Trumps, cheers abruptly turned into a torrent of boos and heckling. Chants of "Lock him up!" broke out in some sections.
Trump appeared unfazed and continued waving. Later, some fans behind home plate held a sign reading "VETERANS FOR IMPEACHMENT". Another banner appeared during the game: "IMPEACH TRUMP!"
The president was on hand for seven innings before heading back to the White House. The Astros took a 3-2 series lead with a 7-1 victory in Game 5.
Trump's staff has long tried to shield him from events where he might be loudly booed or heckled, and he has rarely ventured into the neighbourhoods of the heavily Democratic city. He won just over four per cent of the vote in the District of Columbia in 2016.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed with Trump whether he'd like to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, but the president declined while citing the disruption that would cause fans getting to the ballpark.
Australian Associated Press
