Trump won’t be throwing out first pitch at Nationals home opener

WASHINGTON — It turns out President Donald Trump won’t be needing to warm up his pitching arm after all.

After reports Tuesday morning the 45th president was “in talks” with the Nationals to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first game of the season, the team announced Trump won’t be able to attend Opening Day next week because of a scheduling conflict.

Jennifer Giglio, a spokeswoman for the team, made the announcement to reporters gathered at the park for a media briefing ahead of the Nationals’ home opener. Trump was invited as part of a Washington baseball tradition dating back to 1910.

President Barack Obama winds up to deliver the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
From presidents and dignitaries to Olympic champions and reality TV stars, a number of notable people have thrown out ceremonial first pitches at Nationals games. Click through the gallery to see a few.    President Barack Obama winds up to deliver the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Wearing a Washington Nationals jacket and a Chicago White Sox hat, President Barack Obama delivers the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Wearing a Washington Nationals jacket and a Chicago White Sox hat, President Barack Obama delivers the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves for the start of baseball season at Nationals Park in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
President Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves for the start of baseball season at Nationals Park in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Tim Lopez, of the Plain White T’s, throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park Thursday, June 5, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
United States Park Police Chief Robert D. MacLean throws out a ceremonial first pitch before an interleague baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Detroit Tigers at Nationals Park, Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ronald Bailey points after his ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
NASA Astronaut Kjell Lindgren throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Beth Cobert, left, Acting Director for the United States Office of Personnel Management, reacts after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, May 28, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Medal of Honor recipient retired U.S. Army Capt. Florent “Flo” Groberg throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Sunday, May 29, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Leslie Jordan, the Emmy Award-winning actor from “Will and Grace,” throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park, Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Washington. The Washington Nationals are hosting their 12th annual “Night OUT” event, in celebration of the LGBT community. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
General Mark A Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Vice Adm. Walter E. “Ted” Carter, superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park, Monday, July 4, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016, reacts after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park, Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
General Robert B. Neller, commandant of the United Sates Marine Corps, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, July 20, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reacts after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Redskins football player DeSean Jackson throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres, Sunday, July 24, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Ben Higgins from “The Bachelor” warms up to throw out the first pitch before a baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and the Washington Nationals, Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
FILE – In this Aug. 24, 2016, file photo, Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals in Washington. Ledecky is enjoying quite a victory tour before she heads off to college. “It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but I’ve also had a lot of fun with it,” said Ledecky, one of the biggest stars of the Rio Games. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE – In this Aug. 24, 2016, file photo, Olympic gold medal swimmer Katie Ledecky, left, hands her medals to Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper to hold before she threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Nationals in Washington. Ledecky is enjoying quite a victory tour before she heads off to college. “It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but I’ve also had a lot of fun with it,” said Ledecky, one of the biggest stars of the Rio Games. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez performs flips from the mound before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the baseball game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
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President Barack Obama winds up to deliver the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Wearing a Washington Nationals jacket and a Chicago White Sox hat, President Barack Obama delivers the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home opening baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, April 5, 2010, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Bush throws out the ceremonial first pitch between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves for the start of baseball season at Nationals Park in Washington, Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch on opening day in 2008 and President Barack Obama threw the first pitch in 2010.

The Nats are set to take on the Miami Marlins April 3 at 1:05 p.m. The opening day ceremonies will have a military theme this year, Giglio said.

WTOP’s Megan Cloherty contributed to this report. 

Jack Moore

Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. Previous to his current role, he covered federal government management and technology as the news editor at Nextgov.com, part of Government Executive Media Group.

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