Top Washington Nationals official claims to avoid featuring Christian player on social media: video
Editor's Note: This article was updated on May 29 at 4:45 p.m. ET to include a statement from the Washington Nationals.
New video appears to show a top official with Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals suggesting that the team doesn't highlight a Catholic player on social media because of his opposition to a group drag queens promoted at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, allegations he later denied.
In an X post Tuesday, activist James O’Keefe released undercover video footage showing a conversation between an undercover journalist with the Citizen Journalism Foundation and Washington Nationals Director of Community Relations Sean Hudson.
Responding to a question about whether team leadership ever has to rein in conservative players, Hudson identified pitcher Trevor Williams as “very Catholic” and noted that he has “all these tattoos that mean a lot.”
Hudson referenced Williams’ opposition to the Dodgers’ decision in 2023 to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, whom Hudson described as “drag queens who sometimes dressed up as nuns.” Explaining Williams’ social media posts, Hudson summarized the pitcher’s position as: “This is wrong, this is my religion, you all are mocking it.” Hudson then added: “Because of that, we don’t use him on social [media].”
Citing an example of a video segment in which players are asked whether a hot dog qualifies as a sandwich, Hudson told the undercover journalist that “we don’t ask [Williams]" in segments like that.
BREAKING NEWS: Washington @Nationals Director of Community Relations Admits on Hidden Camera to Active Religious Discrimination Against Starting Pitcher Trevor Williams, Surveillance of Nationals Fans’ Google History, and Segregated LGBTQ+ Corporate Meetings to an O’Keefe… pic.twitter.com/AWqlq6wXV9
— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) May 26, 2026
Media personality Alex Stein, who provided commentary between video clips of the conversation, claimed Hudson’s remarks could raise concerns under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on religion.
The Nationals have denied the claims made by Hudson in a statement given to The Christian Post.
"The Washington Nationals are aware of comments made by an employee which were recorded without the employee’s knowledge and disseminated without his permission," the statement reads.
"The statements are not only factually incorrect, but do not reflect the views, opinions or actions of the Washington Nationals. The Nationals are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our players, fans and staff, and we vehemently deny any allegations to the contrary."
Additional footage from the discussion showed Hudson describing himself as “very far left-leaning” and saying, “There is a ‘join the Communist Party’ poster up in my kitchen.” Hudson voiced support for “communism” and “redistributing someone’s wealth,” adding, “I hope we get there.” He also suggested turning every home run into a $100 donation to the Communist Party and praised the opportunity for the team to serve as “the voice of reason.”
“A lot of people will tell you ‘When I come to a baseball game, I don’t want to think about that sh—,’” Hudson said. “If you’re a sports fan and we p— you off, where else are you going to go? Are you going to drive past us from Virginia to go to Baltimore? Either way, I don’t give a sh—.”
“If you ever come to a Nats game, there is someone on our team who is responsible for figuring out everything about you, ... “[including] purchasing habits," he added.
Hudson said the team analyzes which opponents the Nationals are playing when fans attend games as part of an effort to place visitors into “a bucket of people” and tailor content to them.
Hudson further claimed that by “accepting cookies,” referring to internet tracking software, Nationals fans allow the team to obtain “a plethora of your Google history.”
The conversation also touched on the Nationals’ employee resource groups, which Hudson said are organized around characteristics such as gender and sexual orientation. Hudson suggested the “Pride ERG” would “be well within their rights to say ‘If you don’t identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ population, you shouldn’t be at this specific meeting.’” He also described wanting to create a space where LGBT staffers “can truly do whatever they want.”
Hudson also discussed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s attendance at Nationals games. Calling the Trump administration official “unimpressive." He recalled players asking whether Hegseth would remain after games so they could meet him. Hudson suggested he would tell players Hegseth had already left, even when that was not true.
In video footage shared Tuesday on Stein’s program “After Hours With Alex Stein,” the media personality called Hudson and asked whether it was true that Williams was “not allowed to be shared” on social media because of his Christian faith and opposition to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
“That doesn’t sound like something that I would say,” Hudson responded. He added that “the players each are kind of up to their own discretion on how widely they want to be shared on social media.”
Responding to Stein’s question about whether the team tracks fans’ Google search history, Hudson maintained, “That’s not possible for us.” Hudson also denied supporting communism, saying: “That’s not true at all.”
Hudson was less responsive to questions about his remarks concerning Hegseth. He asked Stein for an email address where he could be reached and ended the call after Stein cited undercover footage in which Hudson said he would like to work for the Boston Red Sox.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
