Why Trump didn't throw the first pitch at Yankees vs Tigers 9/11 game. Theories surface amid health concerns

President Donald Trump was expected to throw the first pitch at the New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers 9/11 game on Thursday

Published on: Sep 12, 2025, 05:13:07 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump was expected to throw the first pitch at the New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers 9/11 game on Thursday. But he did not. The 79-year-old met several players, including Aaron Judge, and headed out to his seat for the national anthem. Thousands of spectators cheered ‘USA, USA’ when Trump was shown on the Jumbotron.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he attends the Yankees Baseball Game (REUTERS)

Meanwhile, several fans on social media kept waiting for the president to throw the first customary pitch. “Is Trump throwing the first pitch?” one person asked on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“I’m excited to see President Trump throw the first pitch tonight right here at Yankee Stadium! Game begins at 8pm est,” another one tweeted.

“Trump is supposed to throw out the first pitch at The Yankees game tonight. Even though my local team has a game on tonight, I think I will be watching The Yankees instead. I’m a big fan of Aaron Judge and Trump. I can’t wait for the game, it should be a good one. I hope,” a third fan added.

At a New York Yankees game, the first pitch is a ceremonial tradition before the actual game begins. A guest, often a celebrity, veteran, community leader, or someone being honored, throws a pitch from the mound (or just in front of it) to a Yankees catcher.

Trump health concerns

Meanwhile, at a 9/11 event on Thursday, President Trump sparked renewed health concerns. Social media users pointed out that there was a visible ‘droop’ in his face.

“I know we’re all busy with the other thing. But did Trump have a stroke? Cuz that looks a LOT like stroke related facial droop to me. (This is from this morning’s 9/11 memorial).” Another remarked “Trump at the 9/11 Pentagon memorial ceremony. What is wrong with his face? Definitely has pronounced drooping on the right side of face & mouth, typical of medical condition," one person speculated. There is no evidence to back this claim.

We do not know why Trump did not throw a pitch at the start of the game.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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