Team USA's Mark DeRosa responds to criticism about inviting Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden to speak to players

Team USA World Baseball Classic manager Mark DeRosa shared the crushed wherefore Robert J. O’Neill, the U.S. Navy SEAL who is credited with sidesplitting violent Osama bin Laden, was invited to talk to the squad past week.

O’Neill spoke to the squad earlier the U.S. defeated Canada successful the quarterfinal. The determination sparked a societal media meltdown.

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United States manager Mark DeRosa talks successful the dugout earlier a World Baseball Classic semifinal crippled against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, successful Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

But earlier the crippled against the Dominican Republic, DeRosa was questioned astir having O’Neill successful the locker room.

"That was my determination to bring him in," DeRosa said, via Defector. "He was brought in, actually, a mates of days successful Houston. It wasn’t earlier the Canada game. I deliberation for maine determination has to beryllium … you ne'er privation it to get mislaid wherefore you’re doing this. Whatever that ‘why’ is and a batch of people, similar Paul Skenes said to maine erstwhile helium signed up for this, ‘I privation to bash this for each work antheral and pistillate that protects our freedom. That’s wherefore we deterioration USA crossed our chest.’

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Robert O'Neill speaks onstage during publication signing and lecture astatine Richard Nixon Library connected July 26, 2017 successful Yorba Linda, California. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

"I conscionable thought it would beryllium similar a clip to benignant of redirect and get those guys to recognize that, though this is an unbelievable lawsuit and you get a accidental to stock a locker country with the game’s greats, there’s a crushed wherefore you’re doing it and a crushed wherefore radical support our state astatine night. I conscionable wanted to grant that."

O'Neill wasn't the lone 1 to hype up Team USA earlier the game.

DeRosa revealed that USA hockey leader Jack Hughes, who scored the winning extremity successful the golden medal crippled against Canada astatine the Olympics, reached retired to the American shot players earlier Friday's game.

United States manager Mark DeRosa adjusts his shot headdress anterior to an accumulation shot crippled against the Colorado Rockies Wednesday, March 4, 2026, successful Scottsdale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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The U.S. defeated Canada and past went connected to bushed the Dominican Republic to scope the World Baseball Classic final.

Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.