President Donald Trump welcomed the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on Thursday, celebrating their 2025 World Series victory. This marks the team’s second visit in two years after securing the championship title. During a ceremony in the Rose Garden, the Dodgers gifted Trump with a custom team jersey and a replica of their World Series championship ring. Trump praised the team for their outstanding season and expressed optimism about their potential for future successes.
Among the attendees were some of the Dodgers’ top players, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts. However, notable absentees included Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. In his speech, Trump extended his congratulations to the team and highlighted several key players. He also reminisced about baseball legends such as Babe Ruth and former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. During the event, Trump mistakenly referred to retired veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw as still active.
Accepting the championship ring, Trump humorously questioned whether he needed to report it before tucking it into his jacket pocket. The team’s visit sparked mixed reactions among Dodgers fans, particularly in light of recent immigration enforcement actions and protests in Los Angeles tied to Trump administration policies. Betts opted to spend the day with his family, while Hernández, who has publicly criticized immigration raids, cited a rehabilitation commitment and indicated he would not have attended even if available.
Manager Dave Roberts defended the team’s decision to accept the White House invitation, emphasizing that the visit was a celebration of a long-standing sports tradition rather than a political statement. Championship team visits to the White House have been an enduring American tradition, though players’ participation has sometimes varied due to personal beliefs and political views.