The Los Angeles Dodgers, as reigning World Series champions, face the decision of whether or not to visit President Donald Trump at the White House. The Los Angeles Times has indicated that a visit is unlikely, noting that key players like Mookie Betts have skipped out on previous visits with other teams and have been vocal about social justice issues. The team is scheduled to be in Washington D.C. for a series in early April, which could be the time to make the visit. However, given the team’s ties to Los Angeles, a predominantly Democrat city, and their history of criticism towards the president, it is unlikely that they will agree to a celebratory photo op at the White House.
The current political climate is influencing decisions around championship teams visiting the White House. The Philadelphia Eagles are set to visit in April after rumors that they may skip the tradition, as they did in 2018. The Washington Nationals were the last championship team to visit Trump during his first presidency, shortly after their World Series victory in 2019. The pandemic made visits more difficult in 2020, and by the time restrictions lifted, President Biden had taken office. Various NCAA teams have visited Biden, and both the Las Vegas Aces and Boston Celtics, as the reigning WNBA and NBA champions, visited Biden before his term ended.
The decision of championship teams to visit the White House has become a more politicized issue in recent years, with some teams opting out of traditions due to political beliefs or controversies surrounding the president in office. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ potential visit to the White House is uncertain, given the team’s ties to a predominantly Democrat city like Los Angeles and their outspokenness on social justice issues. Other teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles and Florida Panthers, have visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl and Stanley Cup victories, respectively, despite initial rumors that they may skip the tradition.
Major League Baseball has come under scrutiny from some lawmakers for allegedly ousting players like Trevor Bauer due to their support for Trump. The decision of championship teams to visit the White House has been influenced by the political climate and controversies surrounding the president in office. While some teams have chosen to visit the White House to celebrate their victories, others have opted out of the tradition due to political beliefs or controversies. The decision of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as reigning World Series champions, to visit President Trump at the White House remains uncertain amid their ties to a predominantly Democrat city and their history of criticism towards the president.
Overall, the tradition of championship teams visiting the White House has become more politicized in recent years, with teams facing scrutiny for their decisions to either visit or skip the tradition based on political beliefs or controversies surrounding the president in office. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ potential visit to the White House remains uncertain, amid their outspokenness on social justice issues and ties to a predominantly Democrat city. Other championship teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles and Florida Panthers, have visited the White House to celebrate their victories, while some MLB players have faced controversy over their support for Trump. The decision of championship teams to visit the White House reflects the current political climate and the impact of political beliefs on sports traditions.
