Surreal Day for Yankees’ Judge Amid September 11 Commemoration

Yankees star Aaron Judge described Thursday as a “surreal day” following the team’s 9-3 win against the Tigers. This unforgettable day included meeting President Donald Trump prior to the game, and coincided with the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Trump was in New York to mark the anniversary. He visited the Yankees’ clubhouse, interacting with players and spending time with Judge. The Yankee superstar mentioned that he hadn’t met Trump before, emphasizing the day’s significance and the need for unity.

“No matter our beliefs, the strength and resilience we showed today, especially on 9/11, during such a dark time, is essential for us all to come together,” Judge stated. “It was definitely a surreal moment, a surreal day, and a great one, especially after bouncing back from two losses.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone referred to the experience with Trump as “cool” but admitted it felt “a bit intimidating.”

“You get a little nervous, but he’s great in that setting—very personable,” Boone noted. “I took a photo, waved, and walked him to the main area where the players were gathered. The interaction was really amazing.”

Videos from the clubhouse captured the moment as Trump spoke to the players before heading to the field. He playfully addressed the Yankees’ playoff aspirations, quipping, “I’ll go forever.”

Afterward, Trump waved to the players and shared a memorable moment with both Anthony Volpe and Judge.

Joking with Judge, Trump remarked, “With that much muscle, you must hit the ball perfectly. You’re an incredible player.”

During the game, Judge hit two home runs, including a powerful shot into left field in the first inning, putting the Yankees ahead 1-0.

His second home run marked the 361st of his career, placing him in a tie with Geordy Maggio on the Yankees’ all-time list.

Reflecting on the day, Judge humorously suggested, “If we’re scoring that many runs, maybe we should bring him around more often.”