It was just a few months ago that Donald Trump championed Pete Rose’s longstanding Hall of Fame case. He was among those who supported the decision to lift Rose’s permanent ban, as confirmed by Rob Manfred earlier this year. The move, made official on May 13, opened the door for Rose—who passed away in 2024—to be considered for enshrinement in December 2027. Now, the attention is on a former Red Sox-Yankees legend with 24 seasons to his name, with Trump claiming that he too deserves a fair shot at Cooperstown.

Roger Clemens, a pitcher who defined dominance for a generation, has been kept out of Cooperstown due to ties to PED allegations. A day after Trump played golf with Clemens and his son Kacy, he took to social media. There, Trump claimed that Clemens belongs in the Hall of Fame and that he should be inducted immediately.

“He should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, NOW! People think he took d—s, but nothing was proven. He never tested positive, and Roger, from the very beginning, totally denies it. He was just as great before those erroneous charges were leveled at him.” Trump noted as he dismissed Clemens’ connections to performance-enhancing drugs.

Clemens was widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in league history. However, when in 2007, the seven-time Cy Young winner was named in the Mitchell Report on steroids in baseball back in 2007, it tainted his name in the eyes of Hall of Fame voters.

Clemens, meanwhile, has always denied such allegations. “That rumor has gone on for years, and there has been no evidence whatsoever that he was a ‘d—-e.’” Trump noted. Apparently, the allegations against Clemens were mainly based on the testimony given by his former trainer, Brian McNamee. Yet, it was enough to hurt his chances for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Unlike Rose, who couldn’t even get on the ballot because of the permanent ban, Roger Clemens did get his chance. From 2013 to 2022, he was listed on the HOF ballot for ten straight years. Yet, he never received the 75% of votes needed to get in.

Neither MLB nor the commissioner has the power to just put a player into the Hall. That decision belongs solely to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Trump also mentioned that since Rose had only been considered for the Hall “because of DEATH,” he will not let the same fate befall Clemens.

Pete Rose’s realistic chances of getting inducted into Hall of Fame

Pete Rose’s lifetime ban was lifted earlier this year, but getting into Cooperstown is anything but easy. First, his candidacy will have to make it through the Historical Overview Committee. They are the decision-makers on whether Rose’s name will even appear on the ballot.

Once that is done, the Classic Era Committee will vote on Rose in December 2027. Let’s just note that the full list of voters hasn’t been announced yet. The process alone is lengthy, strict and difficult. The committee meets in person for long discussions about each candidate, but members cannot reveal who they are voting for. To secure induction, Rose will need at least 12 out of 16 votes.

Committee members are elected by Hall of Fame executives, researchers, and other insiders. However, even after the vote, the Hall of Fame board of directors has the final say. So, even though Rose’s record as baseball’s all-time hit leader makes him a strong candidate, nothing is guaranteed as of now.

His friends, family and fans will have to wait until every step is completed. Similarly, it’s going to be just as complicated for Clemens as well.