Vice President JD Vance and leading Senate Republicans are firing back at Major League Baseball after the league issued warnings to three San Francisco Giants pitchers for writing Bible verse references on their team-issued “Pride Night” caps during Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, and Ryan Walker each inscribed references to Genesis 9:12-16 — the passage describing God’s covenant with Noah and the rainbow as its sign — on their rainbow-logo caps.
MLB’s chief communications officer Pat Courtney confirmed the league’s response: “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations.”
Vice President Vance mocked the decision on X, stating bluntly, “Trump won we don’t have to do this anymore.”
His remark quickly went viral, underscoring growing frustration with what conservatives view as selective enforcement against Christian expression.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a formal letter to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred demanding answers.
Hawley expressed concern over what he called a “pattern of discrimination” against players of faith.
“You must answer for what appears to be a pattern of discrimination within MLB against baseball players who profess their Christian faith,” Hawley wrote.
The GOP senator questioned the league’s antitrust exemption and its promotion of certain messages while penalizing others.
Other Republicans echoed the outrage.
Critics argued MLB happily promotes Pride messaging but cracks down on players quietly referencing Scripture — especially one tying the rainbow to God’s promise rather than modern activism.
Roupp later explained his choice: “It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise that he makes to us… I’m thankful we live in a country where we have the freedom to believe what we want and express what we want.”
Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford said, “MLB needs to fix the contradiction: a pride flag is fine, but a Bible verse gets a warning? Faith isn’t a violation. Treat it that way.”
Alabama GOP Sen. Katie Britt wrote on X, “Let me get this straight, [MLB] teams can host ‘pride night’ but players wearing bible verses is an issue?”
