Trump Hosts Dodgers at White House Amid Tradition and Controversy
President Donald Trump welcomed the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on July 23, hosting a Rose Garden ceremony that honored the team’s second consecutive championship — but not every star player was in attendance. The visit, a tradition dating back to 1869, unfolded against a backdrop of political division that has turned what was once a routine celebration into a flashpoint for national debate.
A Dynasty in the Making
The Dodgers arrived at the White House fresh off a historic achievement: they became the first repeat World Series champions in a quarter-century, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 last November. According to AP News, the team edged the Blue Jays to become the first repeat champions since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. It was the Dodgers’ third title in six years, sparking debate about whether this era qualifies as a dynasty.
Trump, a longtime baseball fan with close ties to the New York Yankees, singled out Shohei Ohtani during the ceremony, calling him “just about the best pitcher in baseball and just about the best hitter in baseball.” The two-way superstar, who signed a record $700 million contract with the Dodgers, attended the event along with manager Dave Roberts and most of the roster.
Players Who Stayed Home
Not everyone made the trip. Star right fielder Mookie Betts declined to attend, citing family time on a rare day off. “I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” Betts said. “We just had a baby. You don’t get many days off.” He acknowledged the inevitable scrutiny, adding, “If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don’t, people are gonna hate me.”
Utility player Kiké Hernández, who is Puerto Rican, was more explicit about his reasons. He said he would not have attended even if he were active, citing opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The absences echo a pattern from Trump’s first term, when White House visits by championship teams became politically charged. In 2018, Trump rescinded an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after many players planned to skip.
Manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the visit was about winning, not politics. “My company line, my personal line, is, I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House,” Roberts said.
A New Setting for an Old Tradition
The ceremony took place in the Rose Garden, which Trump recently renovated with a Mar-a-Lago-style patio area featuring cafe-style tables and umbrellas. AP News reported that the $2 million project, paid for by private donations, transformed the iconic lawn into what the president has called the “Rose Garden Club.” The renovation is part of a broader effort by Trump to imprint his personal style on the White House grounds.
Championship baseball teams have been visiting the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the undefeated Cincinnati Red Stockings. But what was once a non-controversial tradition has become increasingly politicized. The Dodgers’ situation is particularly complex because the team plays in Los Angeles, a deeply Democratic city that has been a focal point of Trump administration immigration enforcement policies.
The Immigration Backdrop
The visit comes amid a significant escalation in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, with Los Angeles — a city that is nearly 50% Latino — heavily affected by ICE raids. The Dodgers’ ownership group, Guggenheim Partners, previously held a $12 million stake in the Geo Group, a private operator of immigration detention centers. Under public pressure, the Dodgers sold that stake and pledged $1.1 million to community organizations.
These tensions have left many fans conflicted. As one Latino Dodgers fan told The Guardian, “It was never controversial to go to the White House until Trump came into office. I’m very conflicted.” Father Brendan Busse, a pastor at Dolores Mission in Los Angeles, offered a different perspective, suggesting that “bringing Dodger blue into the White House is better than all the gold trinkets that have been brought in recently.”
What’s Next
The Dodgers’ White House visit highlights the growing intersection of sports and politics in an era of deep partisan division. As the team continues its pursuit of a third consecutive championship, the question remains whether the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House can remain a unifying moment — or whether it will continue to reflect the fractures in American society. For now, the Dodgers have made their choice: they showed up, even if not every player did.