Former President Trump released a statement on Friday after news broke that the MLB is moving its All-Star Game out of Atlanta following Governor Brian Kemp’s approval of Georgia’s new election bill. Trump called out the MLB as well as “woke corporations” for “interfering with Free and Fair Elections.”
“Baseball is already losing tremendous numbers of fans, and now they leave Atlanta with their All-Star Game because they are afraid of the Radical Left Democrats who do not want voter I.D., which is desperately needed, to have anything to do with our elections,” Trump said. “Boycott baseball and all of the woke companies that are interfering with Free and Fair Elections. Are you listening Coke, Delta, and all!”
The MLB’s move comes after President Joe Biden told ESPN on Wednesday that he would “strongly support” the baseball league moving its annual game out of Georgia due to objections with the new election security bill.
“I think today’s professional athletes are acting incredibly responsibly. I would strongly support them doing that. People look to them. They’re leaders,” Biden said. “Look what’s happened with the NBA, as well. Look what’s happened across the board. The very people who are victimized the most are the people who are the leaders in these various sports, and it’s just not right.”
The game was scheduled to be held at Truist Park — home of the Atlanta Braves — on July 13. The city has hosted the All-Star game only twice, in 1972 and 2000, and the event was poised to generate considerable revenue for the state’s economy. The MLB claims it moved the location of the game due to perceived voting “restrictions” contained in SB 202.
“I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB draft,” Rob Manfred, MLB commissioner, said in a statement. “Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box.”
Last week, Biden reiterated an erroneous left-wing talking point that SB 202 bans voters from getting water in line at a polling place. In reality, the election bill provision allows voters to bring food or beverage in line, and even order food if desired. The provision instead intends to apply to people passing out advertisements, or gifts, something already contained in similar laws in Minnesota, Montana, and New York, which has a likewise policy that applies to “meat, drink, tobacco, refreshment, or provision.” Delaware, Biden’s home state, also prohibits gifts and rewards in presidential primary elections.
The Georgia bill mandates voter identification for absentee ballots and allows polls to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Biden told ESPN that the bill is “Jim Crow on steroids” after claiming in his first press conference in March that it is “Jim Crow in the 21st century.” Press Secretary Jen Psaki falsely claimed on Thursday SB 202 would “make it harder and more difficult for people to vote.”
Kemp criticized the MLB for its sudden decision, citing “cancel culture” in an interview with The Hill. “Today, Major League Baseball caved to fear, political opportunism, and liberal lies,” said Kemp. “Georgians — and all Americans — should fully understand what the MLB’s knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included. If the left doesn’t agree with you, facts and truth do not matter.”
David Ralston, the Republican Speaker of the Georgia House, said Georgia will not “be bullied by socialists and their sympathizers” regardless of the MLB’s decision. “This decision is not only economically harmful, it also robs Georgians of a special celebration of our national pastime free of politics. But Georgia will not be bullied by socialists and their sympathizers,” Ralston said. “We will continue to stand for accessible, secure elections that are free and fair. And we will continue to speak truth despite extortion and intimidation.”
Prior to formally announcing the change of the venue, Manfred said “substantive conversations” on the All-Star Game location and the bill took place among the MLB Players Association trade union. As alluded to by Trump, “woke companies” have denounced the Georgia bill as they face increasing pressure to virtue-signal.
Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said the bill was “unacceptable” and a “step backwards” after The African Methodist Church called for a boycott of the product. “If “Coca-Cola wants black and brown people to drink their product, then they must speak up when our rights, our lives, and our very democracy as we know it is under attack,” said Bishop Reginald Jackson at a rally in Atlanta last Thursday. Even though the corporation released a statement in March noting it supports “improvements that would enhance accessibility, maximize voter participation, maintain election integrity, and serve all Georgians,” the mob made sure the hashtag #BoycottCocaCola trended on social media.
On Thursday, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., released a video calling out Delta Air Lines for being “woke corporate hypocrites” after CEO Ed Bastian announced opposition to the Georgia election bill upon having “discussions with leaders and employees in the Black community.” Rubio pointed to the fact that these same corporations still do business with the genocidal Chinese Community Party.
#WokeCorporateHypocrites pic.twitter.com/ZHFTias5pg
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 1, 2021
Two hours prior to releasing a statement on the MLB’s decision, Trump said “there was massive fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election” and wished Americans a Happy Easter.
“Why is it that every time the 2020 ELECTION FRAUD is discussed, the Fake News Media consistently states that such charges are baseless, unfounded, unwarranted, etc.? Sadly, there was massive fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election, and many very angry people understand that,” Trump said. “With each passing day, and unfortunately for the Radical Left CRAZIES, more and more facts are coming out. Other than that, Happy Easter!”
The Georgia election bill is continually mischaracterized by the left — as it merely aims to ensure election security and thus that the convoluted nature of the 2020 election does not take precedent again.
The MLB is currently selecting a new city to host its All-Star Game, as sports ratings decline due to social justice messaging. According to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll, about 34.5 percent of respondents have watched fewer sports on television because of social justice agendas and activism. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has voiced support for the CCP and Black Lives Matter, backed the MLB’s decision to move the All-Star Game.
“Proud to call myself a part of the @mlb family today. @Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter,” James said.
Proud to call myself a part of the @mlb family today. @Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter 🙏🏾✊🏾👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 2, 2021
