The Los Angeles Dodgers are making waves as they look to build on their recent World Series triumph, setting the stage for what they hope will be a ninth championship. With a core of stars including Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the electrifying Shohei Ohtani returning, the Dodgers aren’t just resting on their laurels. They’ve also bolstered their roster with notable additions like Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Tanner Scott. This blend of talent makes them early favorites to once again claim the top prize in 2025.
However, the team might soon find itself facing a unique crossroads when it comes to how to celebrate their 2024 championship. In a tradition that sees winning teams from major sports being invited to the White House, the Dodgers previously embraced this opportunity in 2021 when they visited after their 2020 victory. But with the political landscape having shifted following Donald Trump’s return to office, questions are swirling about how this dynamic would play out.
Political commentators Kelly Candaele and Peter Dreier posed an intriguing question: What will the 2025 Dodgers do if they receive an invite from Trump? While their season opener against the Nationals in Washington, D.C. on April 7 could serve as a backdrop for such a meeting, it’s hard to imagine that the team would embrace the opportunity. Betts, for instance, has made headlines in the past for declining a visit to the Trump White House as a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2019. Given the Dodgers’ current roster and the political leanings of their Los Angeles fan base, a similar refusal seems likely.
Candaele and Dreier highlight the substantial political divide in L.A.; after Trump lost the county by a whopping 33 percentage points, it becomes clear that a celebratory photo opportunity with the president might not resonate well with the team or its supporters. They assert that the World Champion Dodgers ought to take a stand and align themselves with the values of their community, rather than engaging in a photo op that could be seen as contentious.
As it stands, there hasn’t been any official word from Trump regarding an invite for the Dodgers, but given the longstanding tradition associated with the World Series winner’s visit to the White House, the next chapter in this story is bound to attract significant attention. Whatever the team’s ultimate decision, it promises to be intriguing, blending sports, politics, and the spirited pulse of Los Angeles culture as they toast to their recent success and look ahead.
