Dodgers Celebrate World Series at White House Amid Tension

WHO:

ABC News - Dodgers chairman Mark Walter presented a 2025 World Series ring to President Trump during the ceremony.

Los Angeles Times - Retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw joined the current team for the White House visit.

ABC News - Retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw made the trip to join the well-represented current team.

ABC News - Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts and reliever Edgardo Henriquez were the only 2025 Dodgers currently on the active roster who did not attend the White House visit.

ABC News - Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated, "My company line, my personal line, is, I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship."

ABC News - President Trump previously hosted the Dodgers in the White House East Room on April 7, 2025, to mark their 2024 World Series championship.

ABC News - President Trump praised Shohei Ohtani's unprecedented three consecutive unanimous MVP awards and compared his two-way dominance to Babe Ruth.

ABC News - President Trump welcomed Shohei Ohtani along with the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House.

Forbes - Mookie Betts expressed regret over his decision to visit the White House last year, stating, "Last year, I think I did it and I realized I didn’t do it for me."

ABC News - President Donald Trump, Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie Betts, Dave Roberts

Sportskeeda - Mookie Betts

WHAT:

ABC News - President Trump acknowledged some gaps in knowledge about the 2026 season, stating, "I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things."

Los Angeles Times - President Trump remarked on the renovations to the Rose Garden, saying, "You know, the White House is built on a wetland... And I decided to do something about it."

Los Angeles Times - President Trump stated, "This is really a special team," predicting a potential three-peat for the Dodgers.

ABC News - President Trump acknowledged some gaps in knowledge about the 2026 season, stating, "I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things."

ABC News - Trump joked about having to report the personalized World Series ring he received, saying, "Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this."

ABC News - President Trump revealed a World Series "bet" with the Canadian Prime Minister during the ceremony.

ABC News - The Dodgers celebrated their second consecutive World Series title at the White House, marking their first repeat championship in a quarter century.

ABC News - The Dodgers utilized an off day in their schedule to attend the White House event, which occurred between a series against the Philadelphia Phillies and an upcoming game against the New York Mets.

ABC News - President Trump praised the Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani, stating, "Babe Ruth was pretty close" to Ohtani, whom he called "the best pitcher and the best hitter at the same time."

NY Post - President Trump revealed a World Series "bet" with the Canadian Prime Minister during the ceremony.

ABC News - The Dodgers originally considered visiting the White House in April during a series with the Washington Nationals but could not due to a crowded early season schedule.

ABC News - The Dodgers edged the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October to become the first repeat champions in a quarter century.

ABC News - Mookie Betts stated he prefers to spend the day with his family instead of attending the White House visit.

ABC News - The Dodgers celebrated their second consecutive World Series title at the White House, marking their first repeat championship in a quarter century.

ABC News - The Dodgers celebrated their second consecutive World Series title at the White House.

ABC News - Mookie Betts stated he prefers to spend the day with his family instead of attending the White House visit.

Forbes - Mookie Betts acknowledged that his decision to skip this year's White House visit would "piss somebody off," and he offered an apology for it.

ABC News - The Dodgers became the first repeat champions in a quarter century by winning the World Series.

ABC News - Mookie Betts stated, "I don’t need more negative," regarding his decision to skip the White House visit.

ABC News - President Trump is welcoming the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House for a Rose Garden event celebrating their second consecutive World Series title.

ABC News - The Dodgers won the World Series by edging the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October.

ABC News - Mookie Betts will not attend the White House visit, stating he prefers to spend the day with his family.

ABC News - Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed hope that the team receives an invitation to the White House every year as a sign of winning championships.

WHERE:

ABC News - The event took place in the Rose Garden of the White House.

ABC News - The event will take place at the White House, specifically in the Rose Garden.

WHEN:

ABC News - The White House event is scheduled for Thursday.

WHY:

Forbes - Mookie Betts acknowledged that his decision to skip this year's White House visit would "piss somebody off," and he offered an apology for it, saying, "I apologize... to the people that it’s going to piss off."

Forbes - Mookie Betts expressed regret over his decision to visit the White House last year, stating, "Last year, I think I did it and I realized I didn’t do it for me." He acknowledged that his decision to skip this year's visit would "piss somebody off," and he offered an apology for it, saying, "I apologize... to the people that it’s going to piss off."

ABC News - Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed that the invitation to the White House is more about winning than politics, saying, "I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship."

Forbes - Betts mentioned that he does not want to continue making decisions that lead to unhappiness for himself or others, saying, "On top of that, you make someone happy, you make someone else unhappy."

ABC News - The visit is to celebrate the Dodgers' achievement of winning the World Series for the second consecutive year.

HOW:

Los Angeles Times - President Trump presented the Dodgers with Trump challenge coins after the ceremony.

ABC News - Dodgers chairman Mark Walter presented a 2025 World Series ring to President Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House.

ABC News - Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida since the Dodgers' last visit.

TMZ - President Trump highlighted the renovations made to the Rose Garden, referring to it as an "extreme home makeover."

ABC News - Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida since the Dodgers' last visit.

ABC News - The Dodgers had originally considered visiting the White House in April during a series with the Washington Nationals but could not due to a crowded schedule.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 15:25 UTC)

During a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, Dodgers chairman Mark Walter presented President Trump with a 2025 World Series ring, while retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw joined the current team for the visit. President Trump acknowledged some gaps in his knowledge about the upcoming 2026 season, humorously noting, "I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things," and he also commented on the renovations to the Rose Garden, stating, "You know, the White House is built on a wetland... And I decided to do something about it." After the ceremony, Trump gifted the Dodgers with Trump challenge coins, expressing his belief that "this is really a special team" and predicting a potential three-peat for the franchise.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 14:31 UTC)

Retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw made a special trip to the White House to join the current team, although shortstop Mookie Betts and reliever Edgardo Henriquez were the only members of the 2025 Dodgers not in attendance. During the visit, President Trump acknowledged some gaps in his knowledge about the upcoming 2026 season, humorously noting, "I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things." The event culminated with Dodgers chairman Mark Walter presenting Trump with a 2025 World Series ring in the Rose Garden, where Trump joked about whether he needed to report the gift, saying, "Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this."

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 07:47 UTC)

The Dodgers celebrated their second consecutive World Series title at the White House, marking their first repeat championship in a quarter century. During the ceremony, President Trump revealed a friendly wager with the Canadian Prime Minister, while manager Dave Roberts expressed hope that the team would receive an invitation to the White House every year in pursuit of more championships. Mookie Betts acknowledged his decision to skip this year's visit might upset some fans and offered an apology for it, saying, "I apologize... to the people that it’s going to piss off."

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 05:51 UTC)

The Dodgers took advantage of an off day to visit the White House, where President Trump praised star player Shohei Ohtani, calling him "the best pitcher and the best hitter at the same time" and likening him to Babe Ruth. During the event, Trump also revealed a World Series "bet" he made with the Canadian Prime Minister, all while showcasing the recent renovations to the Rose Garden, which he described as an "extreme home makeover." The visit came between their series against the Philadelphia Phillies and an upcoming game against the New York Mets.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 01:24 UTC)

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his hope for the team to receive an annual invitation to the White House, stating that the ultimate goal is to win a championship. The Dodgers had initially planned to visit the White House back in April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but their schedule was too crowded at the time. Since their last visit, Trump has made significant changes to the Rose Garden, including the addition of a patio area that resembles his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 00:16 UTC)

President Trump recently hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers in the White House East Room to celebrate their 2024 World Series championship, marking their victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October, making them the first team to win back-to-back titles in 25 years. However, star player Mookie Betts chose to skip this year's visit, expressing regret over attending last year's event and acknowledging that his decision might upset some fans. Betts explained that he preferred to spend the day with his family instead, and he offered an apology for any disappointment his absence might cause.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 23:17 UTC)

President Trump praised Shohei Ohtani for his remarkable achievement of winning three consecutive unanimous MVP awards, likening his two-way prowess to that of Babe Ruth. Meanwhile, the Dodgers celebrated their second consecutive World Series title at the White House, marking their first repeat championship in twenty-five years, and they took advantage of an off day in their schedule to attend the event. Mookie Betts expressed regret over his decision to visit the White House last year, admitting he didn't do it for himself and acknowledging that skipping this year's visit might upset some fans, for which he offered an apology.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 22:20 UTC)

President Trump welcomed Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House as they celebrated their second consecutive World Series title. While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the invitation is more about winning than politics, Mookie Betts chose to spend the day with his family instead of attending the visit. The team took advantage of an off day in their schedule, fitting the event in between a series against the Philadelphia Phillies and an upcoming game against the New York Mets.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 19:25 UTC)

Mookie Betts has expressed regret over his decision to visit the White House last year, admitting that he realized he didn't do it for himself. He acknowledged that skipping this year's visit might upset some people and offered an apology for his choice. Betts emphasized that he wants to avoid making decisions that lead to unhappiness for himself or others, noting that trying to please one person can often mean disappointing another.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 18:22 UTC)

The Dodgers have made history by becoming the first team in twenty-five years to win back-to-back World Series championships. Mookie Betts expressed his feelings about skipping the White House visit, stating, "I don’t need more negative." Meanwhile, Trump has transformed the Rose Garden, adding a patio area that echoes the style of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida since the Dodgers last visited.

(UPDATED July 23, 2026 17:25 UTC)

President Trump is set to welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House for a Rose Garden event celebrating their second consecutive World Series title, which they clinched by edging the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October. Notably, Mookie Betts will not be attending the visit, opting instead to spend the day with his family, while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed hope that the team will receive an invitation to the White House every year as a sign of their championship victories. The event is scheduled for Thursday, marking a significant occasion for the team and its fans.