Johnny Damon, the former MLB outfielder known for his time with the Red Sox and Yankees, is making it crystal clear that he has no regrets about his outspoken support for President Donald Trump. In a recent appearance on Fox News, the 52-year-old doubled down on his endorsement, brushing aside any criticism from the baseball world or beyond.
Damon, who first went viral in 2016 for backing Trump, remains as steadfast as ever. "I'm going to continue to be friends with him," Damon said. "And I support my friends through the thick and thin, the good and the bad, so that's who I am and that's who I'm going to continue to be."
During his latest Fox News hit, Damon didn't hold back when comparing Trump to his predecessor. "The work that he does. He's nonstop. He's relentless. Remember our last president? We didn't see them for months. This guy is the absolute best," Damon said, taking a swipe at Joe Biden.
Damon, who has maintained a close personal friendship with Trump, expressed relief that his pal is back in the White House. "We've just been really good friends, and I'm glad that he's back in office and I'm glad we have somebody who's going to be out there, somebody who's going to answer questions, somebody who's going to do the work to make America great again," he told Fox News.
The former All-Star also took aim at the previous administration, claiming, "Unfortunately, this last administration, we can't see anything positive that they've done, and hopefully, Donald Trump doesn't get any backlash for anything he's doing because he's already done more than what President Biden has done in his four years and Trump's not even in office right now. So I'm very, very happy my friend is back in office."
Damon's unwavering stance puts him in a unique spot among athletes, many of whom shy away from political controversies. But he's not alone in the sports world when it comes to polarizing political opinions. For instance, Ovechkin's refusal to apologize for his pro-Putin video shows that some stars are willing to stand by their beliefs, no matter the fallout.
While Damon faces backlash from some fans and media, he's clearly not losing sleep over it. His loyalty to Trump is a core part of his identity, and he's not about to change that. "I'm going to continue to be friends with him," he reiterated, making it plain that his support is unconditional.
This isn't the first time an athlete has waded into political waters, and it won't be the last. McEnroe's defiance of his family's pleas regarding Trump and Rodgers' sharp criticism of Trump's second term show that sports figures are increasingly willing to voice their political views, for better or worse.
Damon's comments have sparked debate among fans, but he remains unmoved. Whether you agree with him or not, one thing is certain: Johnny Damon is not backing down.
