President Trump was booed by Washington Nationals fans during the World Series, but warmly embraced by several of the players during an appearance at the White House earlier today. Trump returned the favor—literally.

Most team members who spoke during Monday’s event didn’t address Trump directly. But a couple of them did. Catcher Kurt Suzuki, the first to speak, donned a “Make America Great Again” cap. Trump seemed elated at the gesture and embraced him from behind.

“I love you all,” Suzuki said to the crowd.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, the team’s longest-tenured member, thanked Trump for keeping the country safe and “continuing to make America the greatest country in the world.” He then handed the president a Nationals jersey with “Trump 45” on the back.

All this took place in front of a large crowd that greeted Trump and the Nationals on a mild, sunny day. There were appearances from the big-headed Racing Presidents mascots, who looked oddly at home in front of the White House. And the Marine band played the children’s song “Baby Shark”—because, of course, it became the team’s anthem for its magical year.

“We’ve never had this many people on the front lawn of the White House,” Trump said. “Just another record for the Nats.”

Even so, there were some prominent no-shows as several players declined to attend. Relief pitcher Sean Doolittle said beforehand that he wouldn’t go because he opposed Trump’s words and deeds. Several other players didn’t go, including stars Anthony Rendon and Victor Robles.

Suzuki and Zimmerman aside, most of those who spoke during the ceremony directed their comments solely toward the Nationals’ accomplishments and didn’t mention Trump.

Second baseman Howie Kendrick praised his teammates, saying, “No guy ever gave up. We all kept fighting.”

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg referred to the team’s slow start during the regular season, adding that beginning the year with a 19-31 record “only makes this that much better.”

Manager Dave Martinez, whose reputation fell and then rose with the team’s performance, made light of the team’s exuberant and boozy celebration at a Washington Capitals game Sunday night.

“I don’t want to take up too much time,” he joked, “because apparently my boys don’t like wearing shirts any more.” But Martinez turned emotional, saying how proud he was of his players and what the Nationals meant to the city.

Though it’s been customary for champion teams to visit the White House since the Reagan administration, such visits to the White House have become controversial in recent years.

A number of Latino and African American players from the Boston Red Sox boycotted a May meeting with Trump to celebrate the team’s 2018 Worlds Series victory. And the White House rescinded an invitation for the Philadelphia Eagles to accept congratulations for winning the 2018 Super Bowl after several players said they wouldn’t attend.

The Washington Capitals did meet with Trump after they won the 2018 Stanley Cup. But there were a couple of defections from that visit, too, including star goalie Braden Holtby.

Trump has not extended an invitation to the Washington Mystics, who won the WNBA championship last month.

Doolittle told the Washington Post Friday that he would not go to the White House, citing his stance against Trump’s divisive rhetoric about refugees and people of color.

“My wife and I stand for inclusion and acceptance, and we’ve done work with refugees, people that come from, you know, the ‘shithole countries,’” Doolittle said. It was a reference to remarks Trump reportedly made during a meeting with lawmakers last year, when talking about immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries.

Doolittle told the Post that he wanted to attend the White House event to support his teammates but couldn’t compromise his own beliefs to do so.

The no-shows at the White House besides Doolittle, Rendon and Robles, included Joe Ross, Javy Guerra, Wander Suero, Wilmer Difo, and Michael A. Taylor.

This story originally appeared at WAMU. It has been updated with additional detail from the White House event.