Calli Denore

When the Los Angeles Dodgers won the 2024 World Series, fireworks lit the Los Angeles skyline, parades were thrown downtown and fans celebrated internationally as they rejoiced for their favorite team. 

The renowned baseball team received their championship rings on March 18, which sparked a second wave of celebrations over five months later. Nonetheless, the team’s acceptance of President Donald Trump’s invitation to visit the White House to celebrate their win comes during an unnerving political period, especially for Los Doyers fans.

Next week, the Dodgers will play a mid-week series against the Washington Nationals. On one hand, there is no better time for the team to clear up their schedule for a detour from South Congress Street to Pennsylvania Avenue and celebrate their eighth championship win on a national level. For a team that amasses a large Latino fan base in a sport largely built by immigrants, the question remains: Can tradition and politics coexist in sport?

The short answer? No. Sports may be the last American frontier attempting to separate itself from politics, but attempts have proven unsuccessful. Associations such as the NFL have banned players from wearing political gear, and the White House administration’s ban on transgender athletes is being upheld. Executive orders from the pinnacle of American politics have entered the stadium, and they are here to stay. Because of this, the Dodgers’ acceptance of Trump’s invitation is a direct betrayal of their fan base.

The White House — no matter who is in office — extending invites to championship teams is an established courtesy between a reigning president and America’s winningest teams, so the Dodgers’ visit can be seen as a continuation of a long-standing American tradition that dates back to the 1800s. Others, particularly Latino fans, view the visit as a betrayal given Trump’s policies and rhetoric toward people of color and immigrants. 

Los Angeles is a city with a deep Latino identity, and its baseball team reflects that. From Mexican-born pitcher Julio Urías to Cuban outfielder Andy Pagés, the Dodgers are home to immigrant players and Latino talent. 

Under the Trump Administration, immigration policies have led to the separation of families and an increase in deportations, which have disproportionately impacted Latino communities. This is why the team’s decision to visit the White House during Trump’s term demonstrates society turning a blind eye to the struggles that the Latino community is facing.

In recent years, multiple championship teams across various sports have declined invitations due to political reasons. Some view visiting the White House as an outdated tradition that no longer exists in a neutral political space, but Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts does not see it that way.

Roberts defended the visit, calling it “a great honor,” noting that all World Series champions receive the same invitation. The team has framed the trip as a celebration of their baseball accomplishments rather than a political statement, which is how it should be, but the political atmosphere is not black and white.

However, the decision was not unanimous — Japanese star and citizen Shohei Ohtani initially opted out of attending, though he did not publicly state why. As of Monday morning, he has changed his mind. Freddie Freeman, who plays for Team Canada in international competitions, and other non-U.S. citizens on the roster may see the visit differently than the Latino community. When Mookie Betts played for the Red Sox, he chose not to visit the White House during Trump’s first administration and may decide to bench himself during this upcoming visit. 

The controversy highlights a growing divide between sports as an escape from politics and sports as a reflection of society’s more significant debates. Latino fans have every reason to feel conflicted. The Dodgers — a team that has historically been a beacon for diversity and inclusion — will now shake hands with someone who threatens the values and messages they have been conveying since 1947. Since the inclusion of Robinson, the message has been to blur the line between Black and white while ending segregation in sports — something that Trump will not be remembered for. 

Despite the disappointing disregard for loyalty from the team, the Dodgers will ultimately take their trip to Washington, celebrate their title and return to playing baseball. However, the rift created in their fanbase will not fade so easily.