Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — When the Los Angeles Dodgers accepted an invitation to visit the White House following their 2024 World Series win, a familiar chorus of outrage erupted. Critics like Dylan Hernández and Gustavo Arellano of the L.A. Times argue that the Dodgers have betrayed their city, their legacy, and their fans by choosing to celebrate their championship in a building currently occupied by President Donald Trump.
But let’s slow down. Let’s take a breath.
Because for all the high-minded takes about betrayal and political courage, one simple truth remains: these athletes earned the right to celebrate. And that’s what a White House visit is—a celebration, not an endorsement.
A Celebration, Not a Statement
The White House visit has long been a tradition for championship teams. Whether the president was a Democrat or Republican, players have shown up in suits or jerseys to smile, shake hands, and receive symbolic recognition from the highest office in the land. It’s not a political campaign stop. It’s not a policy summit. It’s not a protest.
It’s a photo op.
And sometimes, that’s all it needs to be.
The Dodgers’ choice to attend the White House is not a political act, no matter how badly some want it to be. It’s not “bending the knee,” as Hernández claims. It’s fulfilling a lifelong dream for many of these players, most of whom have worked since childhood to reach this moment. They shouldn’t have to skip a once-in-a-lifetime celebration because of someone else’s political anger.
Athletes Are People—Not Protesters on Demand
It’s unfair to demand that baseball players act as political figures just because they wear a uniform that symbolizes your city. Yes, the Dodgers are proudly diverse, international, and progressive in many of their initiatives. But their primary job is not activism. It’s baseball.
Expecting athletes to constantly carry the weight of our political expectations is a form of exploitation. It suggests that their humanity, joy, and personal agency should come second to someone else’s political rage.
And while Arellano makes a compelling case that protests can be powerful—from Colin Kaepernick to Muhammad Ali—he overlooks the key difference: those athletes chose their moments of protest. They weren’t bullied into them by newspaper columns or outraged tweets. They acted from personal conviction.
If a player doesn’t want to go to the White House, fine. That’s their right. But if they do? That’s also their right. And that decision doesn’t make them cowards—it makes them free.
Los Angeles Is Not a Monolith
Another argument that keeps popping up: “L.A. didn’t vote for Trump, so the Dodgers shouldn’t go.”
But this line of thinking implies that all Dodgers fans share a single political identity, which isn’t true. The Dodgers fan base spans a massive, diverse population. Yes, most of L.A. leans blue, but there are Republicans who cheer for Mookie Betts, independents who love Shohei Ohtani, and apolitical fans who just want to watch the boys in blue win.
Stan Kasten was right to say politics splits every crowd. That’s why the organization tried to focus on the championship, not the occupant of the Oval Office. It’s not that they’re ignoring politics. It’s that they’re choosing joy, tradition, and unity in a moment that should belong to the players.
Similarly, just because the Dodgers represent the city of Los Angeles doesn’t mean that the players share the city’s politics. The Dodgers are a diverse group of individuals. And believe it or not, there are probably more than a few that voted for Donald Trump among their ranks. Just think about it. Beyond the obvious example of reliever and Series hero Blake Treinen, who has made a handful of statements supporting conservative causes in the past, there are a bunch of players who fit a similar profile: straight, white, Christian, raised in the American South. If you think there are NO Donald Trump supporters in that locker room, you’re deluding yourself.
You Can’t Demand Tolerance and Then Deny It
The Dodgers have, for years, made efforts to be inclusive—from Pride Night to Spanish-language broadcasts to community programs across South L.A. and East L.A. They’ve earned their reputation as a franchise that cares about all Angelenos.
But inclusion cuts both ways.
Demanding that players boycott a White House visit because you dislike the current president contradicts the very principles of diversity and tolerance. It turns the Dodgers from a unifying force into a political tool—and that’s a step backward.
Don’t Let Politics Ruin the Game
The Dodgers visiting the White House doesn’t erase Jackie Robinson’s legacy. It doesn’t negate their work with underserved communities. It doesn’t undo all the good they’ve done as ambassadors of the city. And it certainly doesn’t mean they’re “normalizing” Trump or agreeing with his every word.
It just means they’re baseball players, doing what championship teams have done for generations.
We live in a time when everything is political. But not everything has to be a battleground. Sometimes, a trip to the White House is just that—a trip. A handshake. A smile. A jersey exchange. A moment of pride.
The Dodgers didn’t “whiff.” They didn’t “cower.” They just chose to celebrate their hard-earned success as a team, as athletes, and yes—as Americans.
And that should be okay.
Let them play. Let them win. And when they win, let them celebrate.
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