Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — It was Royals Day at the White House Thursday, with the 2015 World Series Champions’ visit even disrupting the normal daily routine as the press briefing was pushed back to morning so Kansas City native Josh Earnest could attend the official ceremony.
A signature at nearly every Earnest briefing is the White House press secretary’s blue KC coffee cup, and he regularly provides updates from the podium on the status of the Royals’ season, though he has been fairly quiet as of late — the Royals are currently just .500.
Thursday morning, Earnest tweeted a preview of his Royals socks, which he showed off at the briefing.
At the start of the briefing, the Royals’ storied manager, Ned Yost, along with star players Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer, made their way out to surprise Earnest with an honorary jersey and signed World Series ball, joking that it was so he wouldn’t try to steal the jersey given to the president.
At the official ceremony, President Obama joked that Thursday was quite likely the best day of Earnest’s life, in competition with his wedding day and birth of his son, who was also in attendance.
Obama was playful during the ceremony, ribbing the Royals for their not-so-creative nicknaming abilities after listing off Eric Hosmer (“Hoz”), Mike Moustakas (“Moose”) and Salvador Perez (“Salvie”). Hall of Famer George Brett, who was last in the White House with the Royals in 1985, stood directly behind the president.
Sen. Bob Dole, dubbed Kansas’ favorite son, was also in the front row fresh off his appearance sitting next to vice presidential nominee Mike Pence at the Republican National Convention Tuesday. Obama called Dole a “true American patriot,” and the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
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