Trump Will Welcome the World Series Champion Dodgers to the White House
Tyunews.com – WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will welcome the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on Thursday for a special Rose Garden ceremony honoring their back-to-back titles. The visit celebrates Shohei Ohtani and the team’s remarkable achievement of winning their second consecutive championship, having defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic Game 7 last October. This victory makes the Dodgers the first repeat World Series champions in twenty-five years, a milestone that has generated significant excitement among fans and officials alike.
A Historic Tradition Continues
Championship baseball teams have been visiting the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings. These visits represent a cherished American tradition, though they have occasionally sparked political controversy. During Trump’s first term, the 2018 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles famously declined an invitation after several players indicated they might skip the trip. This time, Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts will not attend, choosing instead to spend his scheduled day off with his family, even though he participated in the 2025 visit to the White House East Room.
Manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the team’s perspective remains focused on baseball rather than politics. “My company line, my personal line, is, I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House,” Roberts explained on Friday. The Dodgers had originally considered visiting in April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but their packed early season schedule prevented that opportunity. Instead, the team found themselves in the nation’s capital during an off-day between completing a series at the Philadelphia Phillies and preparing for Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.
“My company line, my personal line, is, I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House.” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Since the Dodgers’ previous visit last year, Trump has overseen renovations to the Rose Garden, adding a patio area that evokes the atmosphere of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The president, a lifelong baseball enthusiast and New York native, has maintained a close relationship with the New York Yankees for decades. His friendship with the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner helped cement this bond. However, Trump recently drew attention during a Georgia rally when he praised the Atlanta Braves’ ownership while criticizing the Mets for their expensive payroll and disappointing performance.
Former Braves manager Brian Snitker and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company, joined Trump on stage during that event. “I like baseball,” Trump remarked before launching into his thoughts on the Mets. “You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.” He continued, noting that some teams seem perpetually stuck in difficult situations. “There are teams like that, where they never go down.”
Trump also touched on the phenomenon of teams claiming they are “rebuilding” despite extended periods of struggle. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.” The upcoming White House visit promises to be another memorable moment in the long history of sports teams honoring their achievements at the nation’s most iconic residence.
