The Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of the 2025 World Series, were formally received at the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking their second championship visit in two years. During the Rose Garden ceremony, the team gifted Trump with a custom Dodgers jersey and a replica of their World Series championship ring. The president commended the Dodgers for their impressive season and voiced optimism about their potential to clinch future titles.
Among the prominent Dodgers in attendance were Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and team manager Dave Roberts. However, the event did see the absence of some key players, notably Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. In his speech, Trump extended his congratulations to the team, spotlighted several players, and shared anecdotes about baseball icons like Babe Ruth and former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. An amusing moment occurred when Trump praised retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw, mistakenly referring to him as an active player.
Accepting the championship ring, Trump joked about whether he needed to report receiving it, before humorously tucking it into his jacket pocket. The White House visit stirred mixed emotions among Dodgers fans, especially given the backdrop of ongoing immigration enforcement actions and protests in Los Angeles tied to the Trump administration’s policies. Mookie Betts opted to spend the day with his family, while Kiké Hernández, who has criticized immigration raids, cited a rehabilitation commitment and stated he would have skipped the event regardless.
Manager Dave Roberts defended the team’s choice to attend, emphasizing that the visit was about honoring a longstanding sports tradition rather than engaging in political discourse. White House visits for champion teams have been a staple of American tradition, though participation can vary based on players’ personal beliefs and political views.