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Royals come to White House, press secretary gets jersey

Manager Ned Yost presented the president with a Royals jersey with the No. 44.

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The president congratulated the team on winning the World Series against the New York Mets.

But occasionally – say, when a White House official’s home sports team comes to visit – that raw exercise of power is clearly visible.

The White House also released a video featuring White House press secretary Josh Earnest, a Kansas City native.

Earnest grinned from ear to ear Thursday in anticipation.

Obama was playful during the ceremony, ribbing the Royals for their not-so-creative nicknaming abilities after listing off Eric Hosmer (“Hoz”), Mike Moustakas (“Moose”) and Salvador Perez (“Salvie”).

He donned a pair of Royals socks for the occasion. He regularly sips from a blue mug bearing the team’s emblem during his daily briefing, and he tweeted a photo Thursday morning of him proudly displaying his baseball-themed hosiery.

The Royals played an afternoon game Wednesday before flying to Washington, D.C. They will fly back to Kansas City following the visit and have a game against the Texas Rangers Friday at 7:15 p.m.

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Also in attendance was: Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr., who was on the 1985 Royals World Series champions team, and Councilmember Jermaine Reed.

President Barack Obama speaks at the White House Summit on Global Development at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington Wednesday