Dodgers' White House Visit Draws 2 Player Absences as Latino Fans Clash Over Immigration
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 22
Dodgers' White House Visit Draws 2 Player Absences as Latino Fans Clash Over Immigration
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 22
Summary
Thursday’s White House trip has sharpened backlash around the Dodgers in Los Angeles, where some Latino fans say honoring a championship under Donald Trump conflicts with the city’s immigrant identity.
2 prominent players will skip the visit: Kiké Hernández said he likely would not have gone even if active, while Mookie Betts said he would spend the off day with his wife and baby.
Dave Roberts said White House visits are a long-standing championship tradition and expected a strong turnout, leaving attendance to individual players rather than making it a team political statement.
$1.1 million in aid to immigrant-support groups and the sale of a $12 million Geo Group stake eased some pressure, but critics say the team still has not matched its past public activism, including its 2020 Black Lives Matter message.
For community leaders, the visit now tests whether the Dodgers can represent a city that is nearly 50% Latino while appearing beside a president whose immigration raids and rhetoric have spread fear across Los Angeles.
When a team profits from fan hardship, can million-dollar donations ever truly repair the broken trust?
How did immigration enforcement's 'chilling effect' cost thousands of American jobs in cities like Los Angeles?
Dodgers Face Latino Fan Outrage and Player Divisions Ahead of Politicized 2026 White House Visit
Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ upcoming White House visit on July 23, 2026, to celebrate their 2025 World Series win, has become a political flashpoint rather than just a sports tradition. As the event nears, player stances are emerging, with Kiké Hernández publicly refusing to attend due to his opposition to President Trump’s immigration policies. This highlights a broader shift where athletes’ decisions about such invitations reflect deeper political engagement. The Dodgers’ management has not made an official statement, underscoring how individual choices now shape the team’s public image in a highly politicized environment.