Trump Announces Presidential Medal of Freedom for Roger Clemens

During a Wednesday night rally in San Antonio, President Donald Trump announced he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired pitcher Roger Clemens.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night in San Antonio that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Roger Clemens. The retired right-hander, known as "The Rocket," won seven Cy Young Awards during a 24-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. Trump described the honor as a "big step up" from the Baseball Hall of Fame, an institution Clemens has not yet entered due to suspicions of steroid use.

Addressing the crowd for over 100 minutes, Trump renewed his public support for Clemens’ induction into the Hall of Fame, comparing the pitcher to other athletes he has honored, such as Mariano Rivera and Tiger Woods. The president previously issued a posthumous federal pardon for Pete Rose in an effort to facilitate Rose's induction into the Hall of Fame. Clemens, who attended the San Antonio event, joined Trump on stage and stated that the award supersedes anything achieved during his playing career.

Clemens remains excluded from the Hall of Fame by baseball writers, mirroring the status of other stars like Barry Bonds who were suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. While Trump noted the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest award bestowed alongside the Congressional Medal of Honor, the pitcher's path to Cooperstown remains uncertain through other voting avenues.