On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers, crowned as the 2025 World Series champions, were honored at the White House by President Donald Trump. This occasion marked the team’s second visit in two years to celebrate their championship victory. During the ceremony held in the Rose Garden, the Dodgers gifted Trump with a personalized team jersey and a replica of their World Series championship ring. The president commended the Dodgers for their outstanding season and expressed optimism about their potential to secure another title in the future.
The event was attended by several of the team’s prominent figures, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts. Nonetheless, some key players such as Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández were absent. Trump, in his speech, congratulated the team and took the opportunity to reminisce about baseball greats like Babe Ruth and former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. He also acknowledged veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw but mistakenly referred to him as still playing, even though Kershaw had retired following the previous season’s World Series.
As he accepted the championship ring, Trump humorously queried, “Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this,” before slipping the ring into his jacket pocket. The Dodgers’ visit to the White House stirred varied reactions among their fans, particularly due to recent immigration enforcement activities and related protests in Los Angeles, which were tied to Trump administration policies.
Mookie Betts explained his absence, saying he chose to spend the day with his family. Meanwhile, Kiké Hernández, who has openly criticized immigration raids in Los Angeles, mentioned a rehabilitation commitment and added that he would have declined to attend even if he had been available. Manager Dave Roberts, defending the team’s decision to participate in the event, emphasized that the visit was meant to honor a longstanding sports tradition rather than to make a political statement.
The tradition of championship-winning teams visiting the White House has long been an American custom. However, individual participation in these events has sometimes been influenced by the players’ personal beliefs and political viewpoints, resulting in occasional variations in attendance.