The cardinals' celebration is "absolutely not a political statement," the player said

St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Matt Carpenter addressed online speculation about his team’s recent celebration, stating multiple times that the gestures were in no way a political statement.

The team celebration came into question Sunday afternoon after an online outlet compared it to images that surfaced shortly after a July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.

Clips of Alec Burleson’s home run trot and subsequent dugout celebration appeared to show Burleson and many of his teammates cupping their ears with one hand while raising their opposite fists in the air. Lars Nootbaar also made the gesture when he rounded the bases an inning later after his own home run.

Carpenter denied any political motivation and explained that the celebration was intended as a team joke with Burleson.

“Burleson is a former college rapper,” Carpenter said. “He carried us to the plate. (The celebration) is the furthest thing from a political statement.”

Is this a Trump home run celebration by the Cardinals? pic.twitter.com/f2XrQr0q3u

— Talking Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024

“It’s an inside joke with (Burleson),” Carpenter said. “This is absolutely not a political statement. I don’t know where that comes from.”

Carpenter said the gestures are meant to mimic a DJ, in reference to Burleson, who shares the team lead in home runs. Burleson was a rapper in college, and his teammates consistently call him by his rap name “Biscuit” in the clubhouse.

Although the celebration was publicly questioned Sunday afternoon, Carpenter said the team already did it at the end of the first half of the season.

“It’s slowly starting to catch on,” Carpenter said. “I don’t know who, or the first official guy who did it on the pitch, but it was definitely in the first half. Things definitely picked up steam in this series.

“Absolutely not a political statement. I think that’s a bit off base here.”

The Cardinals weren’t the only ones who wowed viewers with their celebrations. After hitting a double at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Rays infielder Taylor Walls raised a fist and shouted “fight, fight,” similar to Trump’s gesture moments after his assassination attempt.