President Donald Trump welcomed the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to the White House on Monday, April 7, 2025. The event celebrated their victory over the New York Yankees in a five-game series. Among the standout players present were Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Yoshi Yamamoto.
During the ceremony, Trump praised the Dodgers for their talent and achievements, specifically highlighting Ohtani’s historic season in which he became the first Major League Baseball player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single year. He also recognized Japanese pitcher Yoshi Yamamoto and National League Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman for their exceptional performances. Manager Dave Roberts and co-owner Mark Walter also spoke briefly, with star pitcher Clayton Kershaw presenting Trump a Dodgers jersey featuring the number 47.
One of the more notable moments came when Trump commended Betts for his contributions, while also criticizing the Boston Red Sox for trading him to the Dodgers. Betts, who had skipped the Red Sox’s White House visit in 2019 during Trump’s first term, chose to attend this celebration with his teammates. Addressing the decision, Betts stated it was not politically motivated, but rather about standing with his team to celebrate their accomplishment.
Trump declined to introduce several Democratic senators in attendance, explaining bluntly, “I just don’t particularly like them.” This event also occurred against the backdrop of a volatile stock market day, as Trump reinforced his stance on tariffs.
In a lighter moment, Trump referenced the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, calling him a friend and joking that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts might have even survived Steinbrenner’s famously short patience with managers.
While the ceremony celebrated the current team, it made no mention of historical Dodgers legends like Jackie Robinson. This omission followed a recent controversy involving the temporary removal—and later restoration—of a Department of Defense webpage that honored Robinson’s military service, as well as pages about other minority service members. The Trump administration has been critical of diversity-focused content, often labeling it under the umbrella of “DEI.”
The Dodgers’ White House visit followed the Florida Panthers’ earlier appearance in February as the first championship team to visit during Trump’s second term. The Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the most recent Super Bowl, are scheduled to visit later in April.
As the Dodgers continued their strong start to the new season with a 9-2 record, Trump expressed confidence in their future, suggesting they might return to the White House again next year.
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