President Joe Biden hosted the Texas Rangers baseball team at the White House on Thursday to celebrate their World Series victory.
The 81-year-old came armed with a host of fatherly jokes, but botched a compliment to the team’s pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi, who arrived at the White House dressed in a fancy blue suit.
“Your flashy pitcher Nathan, where are you Nathan?” Biden asked. “And by the way, I want to know who the hell built his haberdashery. I like his dresser, I tell you. Looks good, Nathan.”
A haberdashery is a men’s clothing store.
Biden also couldn’t resist telling the Texas Rangers that he is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies.
President Joe Biden (right) received a pair of cowboy boots and a Texas Rangers jersey from Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (left) at the White House on Thursday afternoon.
President Joe Biden poses for a photo with the World Series-winning Texas Rangers after telling the team he’s a Philadelphia Phillies fan because of his wife
“I want the record to show that I have some ability to say nice things because I married a girl from Philly,” he said. “But hey, Philly fans are tough.”
“And if I wasn’t for the Phillies, I’d be sleeping alone,” he said with a laugh.
First lady Jill Biden grew up in Philadelphia and is a big Phillies fan. In November 2022, she traveled to Citizens Bank Park to watch her team lose to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
“She understands this part of the deal,” Biden continued, referring to the fact that he had to host a rival of the Phillies at the White House that afternoon.
He told Rangers manager Bruce Bochy that Bochy had won four World Series.
“I told him he needs another finger,” Biden said. “Otherwise he’s going to have to put the fifth ring on his thumb. I don’t know how you do that, man.”
During his brief speech, Biden also emphasized the team’s local ties.
President Joe Biden asked the crowd what he should do next when he leaves. He was captured leaving the East Room after hosting the World Series-winning Texas Rangers at the White House on Thursday
“As you know, it’s been 50 years since this franchise left Washington,” he said. “You’re back in the nation’s capital as world champions and you deserve it.”
The Rangers were formerly the Washington Senators until moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the early 1970s.
“You kept the faith. And just like your favorite brand, Creed, you kept lifting each other,” Biden said with a laugh. “You really did.”
The Texas Rangers did indeed use Creed’s 1999 hit, With Arms Wide Open, as the music for their playoff contender.
After his speech, Biden was presented with a Biden team uniform and a pair of Bochy cowboy boots.
“That gives me another two inches,” Biden said, looking down at the heels of his boots.
When the event ended, the President asked the audience what would happen next.
“Okay, what do I do now?” he asked, laughing.
He was going to leave.
Biden did this after greeting several people in the audience.
As he walked out, he ignored reporters’ questions about the agreement between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump to hold at least one presidential debate.