Astros star responds to those saying he didn't want to visit Trump's White House
On Monday, the Houston Astros visited the White House to be honored for their 2017 World Series championship.
While that piece of news normally wouldn’t have gotten much press, in today’s political climate, it was significant.
In an age where professional athletes, teams and organization have decided to start using the champions’ honorary visit to the White House as a political platform, the Astros dared to treat the meeting of the president with some semblance of reverence and respect.
Unsurprisingly, especially considering the team’s professionalism and decorum, the event went off without a hitch.
Well, mostly.
There was the matter of Astros superstar and reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve.
The diminutive slugger sparked an internet firestorm with his expressions and mannerisms.
https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/973263927739117568
People also noticed that Altuve didn’t clap when Astros manager A.J. Hinch said that the team was proud to be at the White House.
This led quite a few people to call out Altuve. Depending on political affiliation, some applauded Altuve’s actions while others found them disrespectful. Many interpreted his actions as those of someone who didn’t want to be at the White House.
Altuve has finally set the record straight. First, he posted on Twitter to poke fun at himself.
I hate the 🏆😂 pic.twitter.com/u1QF8qmhAA
— Jose Altuve (@JoseAltuve27) March 13, 2018
Apparently, Altuve’s decidedly unexcited look is just something he does.
More importantly, he told reporters what was really going on while Trump was speaking.
“The president was talking. What do you want me to do? I was just standing there listening. It was an honor to be there. If I didn’t want to go, I just wouldn’t go,” Altuve said per Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.
“I’m [standing] behind the president, probably one of the most important guys in the world. I can’t be laughing or doing stupid things while he’s talking. I need to listen,” he added.
So there it is.
While Altuve didn’t explain why he didn’t clap, he does bring up the good point that he wouldn’t have even gone if he truly wanted to make a political statement.
A couple of his teammates chose not to go. Altuve could’ve easily done the same, intensely serious expression or not.
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