The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off their 2025 World Series victory, were received at the White House by President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking their second championship visit in as many years. During a ceremony held in the Rose Garden, the Dodgers gifted Trump a custom jersey along with a replica of the World Series championship ring. The president lauded the team’s exemplary season and expressed optimism about their potential to claim future championships.
A number of the Dodgers’ prominent figures, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts, attended the event. However, some notable players were absent, such as Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. President Trump, in his address, extended his congratulations to the team and spotlighted several players. He also reminisced about baseball icons like Babe Ruth and former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Notably, Trump mistakenly referred to Clayton Kershaw as an active player, despite Kershaw having retired following the last season’s World Series.
Upon receiving the championship ring, Trump humorously questioned whether he needed to declare it before tucking it into his jacket pocket. The Dodgers’ visit to the White House elicited mixed reactions among their fans, primarily due to the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement actions and related protests in Los Angeles. Mookie Betts explained his absence by saying he chose to spend the time with his family, while Kiké Hernández, who has criticized immigration raids in the city, cited a rehabilitation commitment and stated he would have declined the invitation regardless.
Manager Dave Roberts defended the team’s choice to accept the White House invitation, emphasizing that it was about upholding a longstanding sports tradition rather than engaging in political discourse. While White House visits have been a customary practice for championship teams in America, participation has occasionally been influenced by the personal views and political stances of individual players.