Trump to Welcome World Series Champion Dodgers to White House/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump will welcome Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House after their second consecutive World Series championship. The Rose Garden celebration comes after the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 to become baseball’s first repeat champions in 25 years. Mookie Betts will not attend, saying he plans to spend the team’s scheduled day off with his family.
Quick Look
- Trump will host the Dodgers in the White House Rose Garden.
- The event celebrates Los Angeles’ second consecutive World Series title.
- The Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7.
- Los Angeles became the first repeat champion in 25 years.
- Shohei Ohtani is expected to be part of the White House visit.
- Mookie Betts will skip the event to spend time with his family.
- Manager Dave Roberts said the visit is about winning rather than politics.
- Trump also hosted the Dodgers after their 2024 championship.
- The team scheduled the visit between road series in Philadelphia and New York.
- Championship baseball teams have visited the White House since 1869.
Deep Look
Trump Hosts Back-to-Back Champion Dodgers
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will welcome Shohei Ohtani and the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House on Thursday.
The Rose Garden event will recognize the Dodgers’ second championship in consecutive seasons.
Los Angeles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series last October, becoming Major League Baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years.
Dodgers Return After 2025 White House Visit
The team initially considered returning to Washington in April 2026 while playing a series against the Nationals. A crowded early-season schedule prevented the visit from taking place at that time.
The Dodgers instead arranged the event during an off-day between a completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.
Mookie Betts Will Not Attend
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts will not attend the White House celebration.
Betts said he preferred to spend the team’s scheduled day off with his family. He participated in the Dodgers’ previous White House visit in 2025.
No political reason was given for his absence.
Roberts Says Visit Is About Winning
White House visits by championship teams have sometimes generated political controversy during Trump’s presidencies.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team’s appearance should be viewed as a celebration of its championship rather than a political event.
“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 said.
Team Visits Have Generated Controversy
Championship celebrations at the White House became politically divisive during Trump’s first term.
In 2018, Trump withdrew an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after several players indicated that they might not participate.
Some athletes and teams have declined presidential invitations over political disagreements, while others have attended and described the event as a traditional recognition of athletic achievement.
Baseball’s White House Tradition Dates to 1869
Championship baseball teams have visited the White House for more than 150 years.
President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869. The Red Stockings were the first fully professional baseball team to receive a White House invitation and finished that season undefeated.
The modern World Series was not established until 1903.
Celebration Held in Redesigned Rose Garden
The Dodgers’ event will take place in a Rose Garden that Trump has redesigned since their previous visit.
The president added a patio area styled in a manner similar to his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.
The new setting will host the team, coaches and White House officials during the championship ceremony.
Trump Has Long Association With Yankees
Trump is a New York native and baseball fan who has long been associated with the New York Yankees.
The Yankees’ late owner, George Steinbrenner, was a close friend of the president.
At a Wednesday rally in Georgia, however, Trump focused on the New York Mets. He criticized their large payroll and losing record while praising the ownership of the Atlanta Braves.
Trump Jokes About Mets’ Struggles
Former Braves manager Brian Snitker and Braves Development Company President and CEO Mike Plant joined Trump onstage at the Georgia event.
“I like baseball,” Trump said before turning his attention to 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 said.
Trump also contrasted consistently successful teams with organizations that repeatedly say they are rebuilding.
“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “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.”
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