John Kruk addresses interest in running for president: ‘People want us to run’

John Kruk probably isn’t too serious about running for President of the United States, but he is putting thought into his cabinet, just in case.

Kruk and Philadelphia Phillies play-by-play voice Tom McCarthy joined the crowd at Citizens Bank Park in holding up their cell phones as part of Jhoan Duran’s popular closer entrance Wednesday night. McCarthy noted it was the first time they joined in on the cell phone flashing party, with Kruk excusing it by explaining they are fans.

“We’re men of the people… we’re leaders of the free world. People want us to run.” – John Kruk pic.twitter.com/yRooVqmsnB

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 20, 2026

Kruk continued on to say they did it because they’re an extension of the game, before venturing off to add, “We’re men of the people” and leaders of the “free world.”

And as Kruk rapidly continued down this tangent, he noted, “People want us to run.” As in run for president. He’s not wrong. It’s not totally abnormal to see someone holding a “Kruk for president” sign or wearing a “McCarthy & Kruk ‘28” shirt. This is good news if the idea of John Kruk being your president is appealing to you. And if it’s not appealing, don’t worry, because Kruk can’t imagine getting a second term.

“I mean there’s a pretty good chance it would only be a four-year run,” Kruk admitted before he began to daydream. “God, you and me in the White House.”

It’s not a presidential election, but Kruk and McCarthy did finish 6th in Awful Announcing’s 2026 MLB local broadcaster rankings, which even Michael Kay would admit is probably a bigger deal than becoming president.

Surely, John Kruk knows the idea of him being president of the United States sounds crazy. Baseball fans couldn’t handle him wearing a suit for Sunday Night Baseball on NBC earlier this year, there’s no way they could handle him being POTUS, which is why Kruk has admitted he would rather be vice president. But the unlikelihood of Kruk in office hasn’t stopped him from starting to think about a potential presidential cabinet.

“Bull (Greg Luzinski) could be our landscaper and take care of the roses and the rose garden because he is a horticulturist,” Kruk said. “(Larry) Bowa, he’d be our secretary of defense.”

Let’s be real, Larry Bowa has no business being secretary of defense. Although Kruk did famously once refer to Bowa as “the biggest asshole in the United States of America,” which does sort of make him qualified to take the baton.