Full Breakdown
Dodgers’ White House Visit Sparks Player Opt-Outs and Public Debate
7/12/2026, 4:10:02 AM
Scheduled Celebration
The Los Angeles Dodgers have accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump to appear at the White House on July 23, 2026. The ceremony is intended to honor the franchise’s 2025 World Series championship. Team officials say the majority of the roster is expected to travel to Washington, D.C., during an off-day that falls between a three-game series in Philadelphia and a three-game series in New York.
Background & Context
Championship teams have visited the White House since President Andrew Johnson welcomed two amateur clubs in 1865; the first World Series champion to do so was the 1924 Washington Senators. The Dodgers previously met with President Joe Biden in 2021 and with President Trump in April 2024. Shortstop Mookie Betts declined a Boston Red Sox White House trip in 2019 during Trump’s first term, later saying the decision distracted from the team.
Players Choosing Not to Attend
- Mookie Betts (shortstop) told *The California Post* that he will likely skip the July 23 event to spend the day with his family after the recent birth of his third child. He emphasized that his calculus “has nothing to do with politics.”
- Kiké Hernández (utility man) is on a minor-league rehab assignment for a left-oblique strain. He told reporters he “probably wouldn’t have gone” even if he were on the active roster, noting that “taking at-bats is more important.”
Official Statements & Responses
- Taylor Rogers, White House spokesperson, said: “President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!”
- The Dodgers organization released a brief note: “We appreciate these tributes in recognition of our back-to-back championships.”
- Manager Dave Roberts stressed personal agency: “It’s an individual choice — as it should be — and I don’t think anyone is judging anyone for going or not going.” He added, “I’m sure a lot of guys are going to participate and be there.”
Criticism & Opposition
Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Plaschke labeled the trip “tone deaf” and an “insult to their fans,” arguing that accepting the invitation aligns the Dodgers with policies he says have harmed the team’s largely Hispanic fan base. Plaschke also claimed the visit would be “a cheap Trump photo op” that disrespects the community.
Former Dodgers player Kiké Hernández previously criticized Trump’s 2017 hurricane-aid visit to Puerto Rico, stating: “This is serious. This is not a joke.” and urging respect for those suffering.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” — Mookie Betts, Dodgers shortstop
- “If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don’t, people are gonna hate me,” — Mookie Betts, Dodgers shortstop
- “I probably wouldn’t have gone,” — Kiké Hernández, Dodgers utility man
- “an insult to their fans.” — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times reporter
- “President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!” — Taylor Rogers, White House spokesperson
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Hernández’s potential attendance: one report notes his rehab status makes a visit unlikely, while another suggests he “probably wouldn’t have gone” even if healthy. Betts has not issued a final decision; he indicated he will “think about myself and my family” rather than appease public opinion. No official roster list confirming individual participants has been released.
Why It Matters
The episode illustrates the tension between a long-standing sports tradition and a polarized political environment. Players must balance personal/family priorities with public expectations, while media commentators frame the visit as either a neutral honor or a political endorsement.
What’s Next
The Dodgers are slated to travel to Washington on July 23 for the White House ceremony. No further updates on individual player attendance have been announced.
