Donald Trump hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Thursday, marking the team’s second visit to the executive residence in two years following their World Series victory.
During a ceremony held in the Rose Garden, the team presented the president with a custom jersey and a championship ring. Attendees included four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, first baseman Freddie Freeman, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and manager Dave Roberts. However, several key players, including star shortstop Mookie Betts and utility man Kike Hernández, were notably absent from the event.
“Special winners, unbelievable,” Trump remarked. “I would not be surprised to see them back here again.”
During his remarks, which included tangents regarding former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and the Rose Garden’s renovation, Trump complimented various players while occasionally confusing their specific roles. He drew comparisons between Ohtani and the legendary Babe Ruth and offered praise for Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers ace who pitched an inning during last year’s marathon 18-inning victory in Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays.
“I watched him beat a lot of teams. They didn’t do too well against him. He is still pitching well, I bet,” Trump said regarding Kershaw, who retired following last year’s World Series.
Trump noted that he had spoken with Roberts prior to the event and expressed surprise at the Dodgers’ dominance this season, mentioning he had been occupied with matters regarding Iran and other international issues.
The team presented Trump with a replica of their championship ring.
“Wow. Do I have to report this?” he joked as he placed the ring in his jacket. “I don’t want to report this.”
The visit has elicited mixed reactions from fans, particularly following recent ICE raids and protest crackdowns in Los Angeles under the Trump administration.
Betts, who attended the Dodgers’ visit last year but did not participate in the Red Sox’s trip during Trump’s first term, told reporters he chose to spend the day with his family. Hernández, a vocal critic of the ICE raids in Los Angeles, stated he would not have participated due to an injury rehabilitation assignment regardless. Pitcher Edgardo Henriquez also reportedly declined to attend.
“My personal line, my company line, is I hope we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship,” Roberts said earlier this year upon accepting the invitation. “I’m not a politician, and I’m doing something that teams have done for decades. And so that’s where I stand, really. I’m a baseball coach. That’s what I do.”
Traditionally, major championship-winning teams are invited to the White House to celebrate with the president. During Trump’s first term, several teams, including NBA and WNBA champions, either were not invited or declined to attend.
This year, the White House has hosted the Olympic gold-winning US men’s hockey team and the NHL’s Florida Panthers. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 NBA champions, opted not to visit; meanwhile, the owner of the 2026 champion New York Knicks has stated that an invitation was extended, though no decision on attendance has been made.
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