The Los Angeles Dodgers have been told to reverse their ‘insulting’ decision to visit Donald Trump at the White House, which has been described as ‘tone deaf’.
Shohei Ohtani and his teammates won back-to-back World Series titles back in November but are yet to make the trip to America’s capital to celebrate their second.
The Dodgers blamed a busy schedule for not being able to schedule the trip but, however, this week they announced that they would be going to see Trump.
They will make the trip on July 23 during an off day on their road trip to New York City and Philadelphia for games against the Mets and Phillies.
A team statement read: ‘As was the case one year ago, the Dodgers’ upcoming visits to the White House and Capitol Hill follow the longtime tradition of visits by other World Series champions.
‘We appreciate these tributes in recognition of our back-to-back championships.’
The Dodgers have been told to reverse their ‘insulting’ decision to visit Trump’s White House
Trump was presented with his own Dodgers jersey when the team visited him in April last year
But their decision to visit Trump has not gone down well with some and a brutal column by Bill Plaschke in the Los Angeles Times said the trip ‘makes no sense’.
He wrote: ‘The Dodgers do know they play in Los Angeles, right? Then why in the hell do they insist on embracing the person trying to tear this city apart?’
Plaschke cites the series of traumatic ICE raids last summer that Trump inflicted on Los Angeles, where Dodgers fans account for one of the most diverse fan bases in all of MLB.
He continued: ‘It’s not too late. The Dodgers still have time to change their minds and do the right thing. They still have time to acknowledge that this is not about eschewing tradition or succumbing to politics or anything but common human decency.
‘The president has treated the Dodgers fans with a careless disregard for their basic humanity, and the Dodgers need to let him know this is not OK.’
The Dodgers visited the White House in April 2025 to celebrate winning the World Series in 2024.
Trump welcomed Ohtani, Mookie Betts and their teammates, complimenting ‘the very talented people’ who beat the New York Yankees in five games.
Trump singled out several Dodgers for their achievements, praising Ohtani for becoming baseball’s first 50 home run-50 stolen base player, Japanese pitcher Yoshi Yamamoto and NL Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman.
Trump inflicted a series of traumatic ICE raids on LA last summer, sparking major protests
Trump praised Betts for his play – and took a dig at the Boston Red Sox for trading him to the Dodgers – and they shook hands at the ceremony.
On that day, Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter and pitcher Clayton Kershaw gave brief remarks before Kershaw presented Trump with a Dodgers jersey and No. 47 on the back.
Trump correctly predicted that the Dodgers would go on to repeat as World Series champions.
‘After seeing how successful you’ve begun the season, I can tell you that you can plan on being back here, I hope you can be back here, next year,’ Trump said.
Speaking about this year’s visit, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said on Thursday: ‘President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!’
