The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing to continue one of American sports’ longest-standing traditions with a visit to the White House later this month, but not every member of the reigning World Series champions is expected to be there.
According to reports, superstar Mookie Betts will skip the July 23 visit to Washington, D.C., when the Dodgers meet President Donald Trump during an off day in the middle of their road trip against the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. While the decision is certain to spark debate, Betts made it clear that his absence has nothing to do with politics.
“I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” Betts told The California Post. “We just had a baby. You don’t get many days off. They’re coming [on the road trip]. And just want to hang out with the fam. That’s really kind of it. But people are gonna make it a whole bunch of other stuff.”
Betts Explains Why He Won’t Attend White House
His explanation comes with added context because Betts has previously found himself at the center of similar conversations. During President Trump’s first term, he was among several Boston Red Sox players who chose not to attend the team’s White House celebration following their World Series title. Betts later acknowledged that he regretted the decision because the attention shifted away from the team’s accomplishment rather than remaining focused on baseball.
Since joining the Dodgers, Betts has attended the club’s previous White House visits, including one hosted by President Joe Biden in 2021 and another appearance with President Trump after Los Angeles captured the 2024 World Series championship.
Another Dodgers veteran, Kiké Hernández, has also drawn attention ahead of this year’s ceremony. A screenshot circulating on social media showed Hernández responding “I’m not” after a fan urged him not to attend the White House visit. The comment was later deleted, but it fueled speculation that he also plans to skip the event.
Hernández and Critics Add More Attention
Hernández attended the Dodgers’ previous White House celebration and later described the experience in practical terms rather than political ones. Speaking with Cultura Sports, he recalled the lengthy schedule that surrounded the visit.
“We went to the White House that morning,” Hernández said. “They had us sit in a room for about three hours. Then they told us to stand up and get in line. We waited for a couple more hours. And then they took us to the stage. The guy gave his speech, and we left.”
He added that he “wasn’t really interested” in speaking with the president during that visit, emphasizing that his attendance was about celebrating alongside his teammates.
Not everyone believes the Dodgers should make the trip this year. Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke delivered a sharply worded critique, arguing that the visit conflicts with the franchise’s relationship with its fan base.
Plaschke questioned why the Dodgers would embrace “the person trying to tear this city apart,” citing immigration enforcement actions affecting Los Angeles and arguing that the organization should reconsider its plans. He urged the team to abandon the visit, calling it an issue of “common human decency” rather than political tradition.
Dodgers Confirm White House Visit
Despite the criticism, the Dodgers confirmed that they accepted the invitation and will visit the White House on July 23. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said President Trump is looking forward to hosting the team once again to celebrate another championship season.
The upcoming ceremony follows the Dodgers’ previous White House appearance in April 2025 after winning the 2024 World Series. During that event, Trump congratulated Shohei Ohtani, Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tommy Edman, and the rest of the club for defeating the New York Yankees in five games. Trump also joked about the Boston Red Sox trading Betts to Los Angeles before predicting that the Dodgers would return after another championship run.
Now, with another title secured and another White House visit approaching, the focus has shifted from the celebration itself to which players will be standing alongside their teammates when the ceremony takes place.
