The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to visit the White House on July 23 to celebrate their 2025 World Series championship, continuing a tradition that has become an annual event for the team. The White House confirmed the visit to Fox News Digital, with spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stating, «President Trump is excited to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers BACK to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship!» The visit will take place on an off day between series in Philadelphia and New York.
The Dodgers secured their second consecutive title by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a dramatic Game 7 that extended into 11 innings, marking one of the most memorable games in recent baseball history. This back-to-back championship achievement makes the Dodgers the first team to win consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000. The team previously visited the White House in 2021 to celebrate their 2020 title under former President Joe Biden.
However, the visit has not been without controversy. Shortly after the Dodgers clinched the 2025 title, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) launched an online petition urging the team to decline the invitation. The group argued that visiting the White House under President Trump would contradict the values of diversity and inclusion that the Dodgers represent. «The Los Angeles Dodgers have always been more than a baseball team — they’re part of the spirit of who we are as a city,» the petition stated. «By visiting a president who has used his power to harm the most vulnerable, the team would be turning its back on the very people who fill the stadiums, wear the jerseys, and give this team its heart.»
Several Dodgers players have previously opted out of White House visits for personal or political reasons. Relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol skipped last year’s celebration, choosing to stay at «my brown house.» First baseman Freddie Freeman also did not attend while on the injured list, though other injured players such as Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Michael Kopech, and Michael Grove were present. Outfielder Mookie Betts, who declined to visit the White House with the Boston Red Sox in 2019, decided to attend last year, saying, «This is not about me; I don’t want anything to be about me. This is about the Dodgers. Because these boys were there for me.» Betts later expressed regret over his 2019 decision, noting that he felt he was a distraction.
The Dodgers are among several sports champions to visit the White House during President Trump’s second term, which began in January 2025. Other teams that have made the trip include the Philadelphia Eagles, Florida Panthers, Ohio State football team, Indiana football team, LSU baseball team, and Inter Miami. The New York Knicks have also indicated they will visit, which would make them the first NBA team to meet with Trump. In contrast, many NBA champions have declined White House invitations during both of Trump’s terms, reflecting a broader trend of political polarization in sports.
The visit also highlights the ongoing debate over athletes’ roles in political and social issues. While some fans and advocacy groups view White House visits as endorsements of the administration’s policies, others see them as a non-political celebration of athletic achievement. The Dodgers’ decision to attend underscores the team’s focus on honoring their championship, even as external pressures mount.
As the Dodgers prepare for their trip to Washington, D.C., the team will also navigate a demanding schedule, with series against the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets surrounding the off day. The visit marks another chapter in the evolving relationship between professional sports and the White House, a dynamic that has shifted significantly over the past decade.
