Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki inadvertently recreated a scene from “Titanic” with President Donald Trump at a World Series victory celebration at the White House on Monday.
In a video taken at the event, Trump appeared to hug Suzuki from behind and with his hands on the catcher’s chest, while Suzuki raised his hands up in a victory pose while wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat. “I love him, aw,” Trump responded when Suzuki put on the hat.
The hug was reminiscent of the “I’m Flying” scene from the 1997 “Titanic,” where Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack embraces Kate Winslet’s Rose as they stand on the ship’s deck.
Not all members of the team, which won the World Series over the Houston Astros last week, accepted the White House’s invitation. Pitcher Sean Doolittle said he would not be attending Monday’s celebration because of Trump and his rhetoric toward people of color and those with disabilities.
“There’s a lot of things, policies that I disagree with, but at the end of the day, it has more to do with the divisive rhetoric and the enabling of conspiracy theories and widening the divide in this country,” Doolittle told the Washington Post last Friday. “My wife and I stand for inclusion and acceptance.”
Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who did attend the ceremony, was also seen in video declining to shake the president’s hand after offering his remarks.
Strasburg left Trump hanging. ? pic.twitter.com/LFNQTpCs89
— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) November 4, 2019
As of Monday afternoon, Suzuki’s Twitter account was made private.