Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has become the latest high-profile player on the team to decline an invitation to the White House, but the 33-year-old star insists his decision is not about politics. Betts told reporters over the weekend that he will skip the July 23 ceremony honoring the Dodgers' 2024 World Series championship, explaining that he wants to spend time with his new baby during a rare break in the grueling baseball season.
«I'm not trying to make this a whole big deal,» Betts said. «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.» The Dodgers are scheduled to visit the White House after the All-Star break, which begins Monday and gives Betts three days off before a travel day to New York for a series against the Yankees starting Friday night.
Betts acknowledged that his choice will be scrutinized regardless of his reasoning. «If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don't, people are gonna hate me,» he added. «So instead of trying to make everyone else happy, I'm gonna think about myself and my family.» He emphasized that the decision was not politically motivated, noting that he did attend the White House visit after the Dodgers' 2020 World Series title. «People are gonna try to drag me into politics, just because I am who I am. That's just the cards I'm dealt,» Betts said. «So it is what it is.»
The Dodgers' White House visit has drawn criticism from some left-leaning sportswriters and activist groups, including the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, which urged the team to stand «on the right side of history» by refusing the invitation from President Donald Trump. The Los Angeles Times also weighed in, suggesting that the Dodgers should avoid a «celebratory photo op with the president» given the political leanings of Los Angeles County. However, the team has maintained that the visit is a traditional, non-political ceremony honoring a championship season.
Betts is not the only Dodgers player skipping the event. Infielder Kiké Hernández also said he would not attend, though he is scheduled to be on a rehab assignment when the team travels to the East Coast. Hernández told reporters he likely would not have gone anyway, citing his opposition to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Manager Dave Roberts, who has previously encouraged players to attend, noted that receiving a White House invitation is a privilege earned by winning a championship and should be viewed as a celebration of athletic achievement rather than a political statement.
The controversy surrounding the Dodgers' White House visits highlights a broader debate about the intersection of sports and politics. While some argue that ceremonial visits should remain apolitical, others see them as an opportunity for athletes to take a stand on issues they care about. Betts, for his part, has tried to steer clear of the political fray, focusing instead on his family and his performance on the field. «I'm not trying to make this a whole big deal,» he reiterated, even as the decision continues to generate headlines.
The Dodgers won the 2024 World Series by defeating the New York Yankees in five games, securing their second title in five years. The team's visit to the White House on July 23 will proceed as planned, with a number of players expected to attend. Betts, who is batting.304 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs this season, will remain with his family during the All-Star break before rejoining the team for the second half of the season.
