Retired Major League Baseball pitcher Mariano Rivera has endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.The two are friends and Trump previously appointed the Yankees legend as co-chair of the White Houses Council on Sports‚ Fitness‚ and Nutrition.President Trump‚ hes my friend. I cant deny that. I will tell that to anyone. Before he was the president‚ he was my friend. Because of that‚ Im going to vote for him‚ Rivera said in a recent interview with radio host Sid Rosenberg‚ according to theWashington Examiner.The former pitcher said he would vote for whoever does the right thing for the country.BREAKING: Legendary New York Yankees Pitcher Mariano Rivera has officially announced he is endorsing Donald Trump for President. Mariano Rivera released a statement‚ President Trump‚ he';s my friend. I can';t deny that. Before he was the president‚ he was my friend. Because pic.twitter.com/y71TBMkcLk Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) April 8‚ 2024Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera has endorsed President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/ynbAFEIBWo Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) April 8‚ 2024From the Washington Examiner:Rivera‚ who retired from the Yankees in 2013‚ had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Trump in 2019‚ which he described as an amazing moment.The interview in which Rivera spoke favorably about Trump was shared on Sunday by the former president on his social media platform‚ Truth Social.Trump‚ the presumptive presidential nominee for the Republican Party‚ has taken a swing at winning over sports fans ahead of the 2024 election‚ visiting an LIV Golfing event at the Trump National Doral Miami hotel on Sunday. The former president and his son‚ Eric Trump‚ attended the event where LIV Golf icons Bubba Watson‚ Anthony Kim‚ and Bryson DeChambeau were among those in attendance.Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera: ";President Trump‚ he';s my friend. I can';t deny that. Before he was the president‚ he was my friend. Because of that‚ I';m going to vote for him."; https://t.co/divqNm15NY NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 8‚ 2024MLB Great Mariano Rivera Endorses Trumphttps://t.co/6sgYYUjLIs Sheri (@FFT1776) April 9‚ 2024Daily Mail reports:In addition to serving on Trumps Sports‚ Fitness and Nutrition council‚ Rivera also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in appreciation for his dominance on the mound and his inspirational journey from Panama to the Major Leagues.Ive been given the Medal of Freedom from the President Donald Trump‚ Rivera told Rosenberg. It was an amazing moment. Receiving that metal was special.Mariano Rivera has made extraordinary contributions to American sports‚ culture and society‚ Trump said when presenting the award to Rivera in 2019. He is the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of baseball.And more than that‚ he has lived the American dream and shines as an example of American greatness for all to see.A controversial voice who has used homophobic slurs to describe tennis and soccer players‚ Rosenberg then asked Rivera if he thinks the country needs Trump to return to the White House in 2025.Im not a politician‚ Rivera responded‚ indicating that he still supports Trump. Ill tell you that right now. Im not going for the right or the left. Im always going for whoever is doing the right thing for the country.