Trump’s Freedom Medal for PED-Tainted Roger Clemens Sparks Outrage and Applause

The overwhelming response on social media to President Trump’s announcement he is giving a Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens can be summed up in a resounding two-word refrain: “For what?”Mr. Trump made the announcement in San Antonio on Wednesday while campaigning for GOP candidates ahead of the midterm elections. Before endorsing candidates, Mr. Trump gushed over Mr. Clemens, a frequent golf partner, who won a record seven Cy Young awards during 24 big-league seasons.However, Mr. Clemens’s career achievements were stained by alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. Mr. Clemens denied the allegations under oath before the United States Congress, but the controversies kept him from receiving the 75 percent of votes required to be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame during his 10 years of eligibility, which ended in 2022.To Mr. Trump, receiving the nation’s top civilian award effectively supersedes Cooperstown’s snub. “He’ll get to the Hall of Fame someday,” Mr. Trump told the crowd of supporters. “I don’t know how they can keep him out. But tonight I’m announcing that Roger Clemens is being given the single highest award for a civilian. We’re giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is the highest award bestowed upon anyone. This is a big step up from the Hall of Fame.”Established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded at the discretion of the president, and said to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to security or national interests of the United States, world peace, and cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Among the nearly 700 recipients are past presidents, politicians, composers, artists, physicians, poets, actors, business leaders, activists, journalists, writers, ambassadors, educators, comedians, humanitarians, astronauts, and athletes.During his first term, Mr. Trump, awarded 24 medals between 2017 and 2021, including several to athletes, including Babe Ruth, Roger Staubach, Bob Cousy, Mariano Rivera, Jerry West, Lou Holtz, Gary Player, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods. Mr. Clemens, is the first athlete to be recognized, during Mr. Trump’s second presidential term.Dolly Parton reportedly declined the Presidential Medal of Freedom three times, twice under Mr. Trump and once under President Biden. Football coach Bill Belichick declined the award from Mr. Trump, following the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack.Mr. Clemens, nicknamed “The Rocket,” delighting in the cheers of the GOP crowd, expressed his gratitude at receiving the award. “I’m stunned,” he said. “Twenty-four years, this supersedes anything that I’ve done in my playing career and to get it from this man, this president, there wouldn’t be another president I would want to get it from.”There probably isn’t any other president who would have considered him for the award. Mr. Clemens has largely avoided baseball’s spotlight despite a career where he compiled a 354-184 record with an earned run average of 3.12 with 4,672 strikeouts. He remains the only pitcher in major league history to record more than 350 wins and more than 4,500 strikeouts.Yet, he was alleged to have used anabolic steroids to extend his career. The allegations were made by his former trainer, Brian McNamee, and revealed in the Mitchell Report, a 409-page document released in 2007 based on a 20-month investigation into the use of illegal performance-enhancing substances by players. Mr. Clemens was among the 89 major league players who were named in the report to have allegedly used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Mr. McNamee told the Mitchel Commission that he began injecting Mr. Clemens with steroids in 1998 and continued to provide the pitcher with steroids through 2001.Mr. Clemens has repeatedly denied the allegations.“He never admitted to anything,” Mr. Trump told the rally in San Antonio. “He’s just a physical monster.”Mr. Trump equated giving Mr. Clemens the Presidential Medal of Honor to taking matters, “into our own hands,” while scolding Hall of Fame voters for ignoring the Texas native. “It’s a ridiculous thing that he’s not in the Hall of Fame with that kind of record,” Mr. Trump said. “He won seven Cy Youngs. If you win one you’re a superstar. If you win one you go to the Hall of Fame for the most part. If you win two, you’re guaranteed. He won seven, and they didn’t take him.”Reactions on social media ranged from one user saying, “What an honor. Congratulations Rocket,” to “Who said cheaters never prosper.”Another user questioned, “Why? Even if based just on his on-field performance, why?”Clearly, Mr. Clemens is a Trump supporter. “Talk about a winner, that’s a winner right there,” he said acknowledging the president.There was indication when the award will be presented.

Trump’s Freedom Medal for PED-Tainted Roger Clemens Sparks Outrage and Applause

Trump’s Freedom Medal for PED-Tainted Roger Clemens Sparks Outrage and Applause

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