It was a scene straight out of a documentary waiting to be made — the 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, dressed to the nines, filing into the East Room of the White House for their celebratory ceremony.
The room was filled with suits, smiles, and the slightly surreal mashup of Major League Baseball royalty and the full force of presidential pomp. And yes, the man at the center of it all was President Donald J. Trump, who wasn’t shy about soaking in the spotlight, or about letting the Dodgers know just how “good-looking” he thought they were. Classic Trump.
I would have liked to believe that the Dodgers, the organization that broke the color barrier & has the most diverse team in baseball, would have known enough not to go to this White House. Shame on them.
— JonBowzerBauman.bsky.social (@jonbowzerbauman.bsky.social) April 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have made this trip — they’ve won two championships in five years — but this visit felt heavier. Why? Because everything feels heavier these days.
The stock market was tumbling (709 points down by midday), the Supreme Court was ruling in favor of Trump on a deportation case, and just an hour after the Dodgers shook hands and smiled for the cameras, Trump was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war in Gaza and tariffs. It was one of those “only in America” days where baseball meets geopolitics meets constitutional law.
LOL at the Dodgers losing the first game they played after visiting the orange asshole.
— Frustrated Fan (@frustratedfan.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
But despite the noise, the Dodgers showed up. All of them — well, all except injured first baseman Freddie Freeman, who was back in California nursing an ankle injury. Even Mookie Betts was there, despite his very public discomfort with being caught in the political crossfire.
“It’s a tough spot to be in,” Betts said last week. “No matter what I choose, somebody is gonna be pissed.” On Monday, though, he was all about unity. “As long as I’m there with the boys and they’re with me… no matter where we are, we have to celebrate this accomplishment.”
It made me physically ill seeing the Dodgers at the White House. Disappointment is an understatement
— Polaris (@polarizepolaris.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
And celebrate they did. There was laughter, handshakes — Trump even made a special effort to greet playoff star Kiké Hernández, who had previously criticized him over Puerto Rico.
The president called Shohei Ohtani “an amazing athlete and person,” and even Clayton Kershaw, who didn’t pitch in the playoffs due to injury, gave a short, earnest speech in place of Freeman. “No matter what you believe… getting to go to the White House, getting to meet the President of the United States — that’s stuff you can’t lose sight of.”
This Dodgers fan is happy they lost today, after the shame of going to the White House. Seriously, I hope they lose all 3 in Washington
— Jonathan - The Royal Tour (@theroyaltour.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Manager Dave Roberts, a history buff, was visibly moved. He took a photo in front of the Declaration of Independence inside the Oval Office. “For myself, who’s a History major, that’s a picture I’m going to cherish for a long time,” he said, like a kid who just met his hero in a museum.
My beloved Dodgers visited the Whitehouse today, met tRump and lost their game against the Nats
Instant karma
— 🏳️🌈Vince (Yo-Vinny)✌🏻🏳️⚧️🫘 (@yo-vinny.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The moment wasn’t without controversy. Some fans were disappointed the team accepted the invite, especially given past clashes between Trump and various Dodgers players, and the broader political climate. But for Roberts, and many others, the team’s decision wasn’t about politics — it was about people. “There’s a lot of people in our organization… different backgrounds, different races, genders… and we were all there,” Roberts said. “I thought it was a really good experience.”
Fuck the Dodgers. I might become a Yankees fan out of pure spite.
— Crystal Fleming クリスタル (@alwaystheself.bsky.social) April 7, 2025 at 10:19 PM