Mariano Rivera Responds to Criticism Over Support for President Trump on Fox & Friends

On Sunday in Cooperstown, New York, the greatest closer of all time Mariano Rivera was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was on top of the world and is beloved by everybody. Well, not everybody is in love with The Sandman.

Wednesday morning, Rivera went on "Fox and Friends" and talked about the hit piece The Daily Beast published that criticized Rivera for his friendship with President Donald Trump.

Rivera isn't backing down.

"Mr. President Trump to me, he was a friend of mine before he became president," Rivera told "Fox and Friends" via the NY Daily News. "So, because he's president I will turn my back on him? No. I respect him. I respect what he does and I believe he's doing the best for the United States of America."

Rivera, who is very public about his Christian faith, was also criticized for his support of one of the United States' strongest allies, Israel. But, the criticism isn't changing his positions or beliefs.

"When it comes to Israel, as a Christian, if my Savior Jesus Christ, He's a Jew, so how am I going to turn my back and say, 'Oh, I won't support Israel.'"

Rivera went on to say that the journalist for The Daily Beast can write whatever he chooses, but it won't have any affect on him. He turned the other cheek and frankly doesn't care what everyone thinks.

This is just another example of how humble and classy Rivera is. No wonder he was the first unanimous player to be inducted into Cooperstown.