Two-time World Series champion Johnny Damon insists he is not fazed by fans criticizing him for supporting President Trump.
The 51-year-old played as an outfielder for the Yankees, Red Sox and a host of other teams during a near two-decade career in Major League Baseball.
Damon’s relationship with Trump dates back to well before he first ran for the White House. The former baseball star then endorsed the 78-year-old back in 2016.
Four years later, Trump appointed Damon to serve on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Now the baseball legend has backed the Commander in Chief over issues such as tariffs on America’s neighbors and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The 51-year-old knows his political affiliations could spark some abuse but Damon insists he doesn’t mind taking criticism if it means standing up for ‘what is right’.
‘I may catch grief but I’m not too concerned about it,’ he told the Ricky Cobb Show. ‘I’m not too concerned about it because I know what’s right.’
Johnny Damon insists he is not fazed by fans who criticize him for supporting President Trump
‘I may catch grief but I’m not too concerned,’ said Damon, pictured with his wife Michelle
Damon’s relationship with Trump dates back to before he first ran for the White House
He added: ‘I know illegal immigrants who are criminals should not be in our country. I know it should be a fair playing field out there – that’s why the tariffs are coming.’
Trump confirmed on Monday that 25 percent taxes on imports from Mexico and Canada would start on Tuesday – despite fears of a trade war that has already showed signs of pushing up inflation and hindering growth.
Damon also weighed in on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, just days after Trump and JD Vance had a heated exchange with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House.
‘I mentioned to my friends years ago: “Is Ukraine ever going to pay us back? I mean we’re giving them so much money” and everybody kind of said “Yeah, I don’t know how that works out”,’ Damon continued.
‘Well, as we see on the world stage right now, President Trump is trying to make peace with Russia and Ukraine … and there’s a lot of war going on that nobody ever wants to have.’
Damon, who won the World Series with the Red Sox (2004) and the Yankees (2009) insisted his priority was his children.
‘I’m a 51-year-old man with eight kids. I worry about my kids’ future. I want to make sure they live in a world that’s safe,’ he said.
‘I know I have a lot of friends on the right, a lot of friends on the left and a lot of them agree with Trump’s policies. They just don’t like how strong of a boss he is and our country needed something like that.’
