Dodgers Visit White House: Ceremony Highlights and Player Attendance Controversies

In a celebration of achievement, Donald Trump welcomed the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on Thursday, marking the team’s second visit in as many years. The event, held in the Rose Garden, featured a ceremony where the Dodgers presented the president with a custom jersey and a replica of their World Series championship ring. Among the notable attendees were four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, star first baseman Freddie Freeman, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts. However, the event was not without controversy, as several key players, including star shortstop Mookie Betts and utility man Kike Hernández, chose to stay away.

Trump praised the team, exclaiming, “Special winners, unbelievable,” and expressed confidence that they would return to the White House in the future. His remarks, however, included some confusion regarding player roles, as he drew a lengthy comparison between Ohtani and the legendary Babe Ruth. He also lauded Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers ace who played a crucial role in last year’s World Series Game 3 against the Blue Jays, despite Kershaw having retired following the championship. “I watched him beat a lot of teams. They didn’t do too well against him. He is still pitching well, I bet,” Trump said.

In a moment of humor, Trump recounted his conversation with Roberts before the event, revealing his surprise at the Dodgers’ current status as the best team in baseball, while also acknowledging he had been preoccupied with international matters. When presented with the championship ring, Trump jokingly asked, “Wow. Do I have to report this?” as he tucked it into his jacket.

The Dodgers’ visit sparked mixed feelings among their fanbase, particularly in light of recent immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles under the Trump administration. Betts, who had previously attended last year’s visit, opted to spend the day with family this time. Hernández, a vocal critic of ICE raids, cited an injury rehab assignment as the reason for his absence, stating he would not have participated even if available. Pitcher Edgardo Henriquez also reportedly did not attend the ceremony.

Roberts addressed the significance of the visit earlier this year, stating, “My personal line, my company line, is I hope we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship. I’m not a politician, and I’m doing something that teams have done for decades. And so that’s where I stand, really. I’m a baseball coach. That’s what I do.”

Traditionally, championship-winning teams are invited to the White House to celebrate their victories with the president. During Trump’s first term, several teams, including champions from the NBA and WNBA, chose not to attend or were not invited. This year has seen the White House host other championship teams, including the Olympic gold-winning US men’s hockey team and the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 NBA champions, opted not to visit, and the owner of the 2026 champion New York Knicks has indicated that an invitation was extended but no decision has been made regarding attendance.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.