The Dodgers are heading into another White House visit, and the team is making it clear it views the trip as part of a long-running sports tradition.
With Los Angeles scheduled to play the Phillies and Mets later this month, July 23 stands out as an off-day between the two East Coast series. That date has now been linked to a White House stop, and the Dodgers responded July 9 with a statement defending their place in the ceremony.
“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 organization’s message comes with the usual tension that follows a team like the Dodgers, whose roster and fan base span a wide political range. Mookie Betts, for example, knelt during the U.S. national anthem amid the George Floyd protests in 2020. Blake Treinen, meanwhile, wrote the name of Charlie Kirk on his hat when the right-wing influencer was killed last year.
That mix of viewpoints makes the Dodgers’ effort to keep the visit framed as routine understandable, but not exactly simple. The team also has recent history that makes any gesture toward the current administration harder to separate from politics. Last year, fans protested the use of Dodger Stadium as a staging area for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity.
“This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight’s game will be played as scheduled.”
In the months after that incident, the Dodgers followed through on a pledge to donate $1 million “toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region.”
The White House visit itself is not new for this group. The Dodgers were there in April 2025, seven months after winning the 2024 World Series. Soon, President Donald Trump will have another Dodgers jersey to add to his collection, while players, coaches, and other team personnel go through the usual round of handshakes.
And when that happens, the Dodgers are likely to be back with another statement insisting the trip carries no political meaning at all.
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