​For the second year running, the Los Angeles Dodgers secured the World Series championship in 2025, and once again they will be heading to the White House to celebrate with United States President Donald Trump. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from at least one prominent figure in sports media, who argues that such a visit is inappropriate given the political climate and the president’s contentious actions. In a column this week, longtime Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke took aim at the Dodgers for accepting the invitation to visit the White House for a second consecutive year.
In the wake of their 2024 World Series triumph, the Dodgers celebrated at the White House with Donald Trump, and their 2025 celebration mirrors that precedent. The team released a statement noting that, as with the previous year, the White House visit and congressional honors follow a long-standing tradition for World Series champions and expressing gratitude for the recognition of back-to-back championships. A White House spokesperson echoed that sentiment, saying President Trump was excited to welcome the Dodgers back to the White House to celebrate their championship.
The visit is scheduled for July 23. In his column published Thursday evening, Plaschke delivered a strong rebuke of the Dodgers’ choice to participate, calling the move “sickening.” He questioned the team’s connection to Los Angeles in light of the president’s divisive presence and actions, asking, “The Dodgers do know they play in Los Angeles, right? Then why in the hell do they insist on embracing the person trying to tear this city apart?” He described the issue as one that has been argued for years, noting that it remains unresolved and continues to provoke discomfort.
Plaschke challenged the justification that the visit is purely about tradition and respect for the office rather than support for the man occupying it. He argued that the team should reconsider given President Trump’s policies and actions, particularly citing the “midsummer ICE raids” that displaced thousands and altered many lives in Los Angeles. He contended that a franchise that prides itself on values such as equality and inclusion could not simultaneously normalize or endorse the morality of a president whose policies and rhetoric have caused significant harm to the community.
The columnist asserted that an organization that once celebrated Jackie Robinson by sharing a uniform cannot simultaneously celebrate a public afternoon with President Trump without compromising its broader values. He also referenced the Dodgers’ previous efforts to advance social progress, noting the team’s resistance to pressure from a conservative faction within its clubhouse when it championed Pride Night, arguing that it would be inconsistent to publicly normalize the president’s stance in contrast to those efforts.
Plaschke acknowledged that there remains time for the Dodgers to change course, but he did not expect a reversal, labeling the organization a “two-time loser” for choosing to visit the White House twice in succession. The piece reflects Plaschke’s longstanding stance on civic responsibility and the responsibilities of public-facing sports franchises when engaging with political figures.
Bill Plaschke is widely recognized as a respected, award-winning columnist with decades of experience covering Los Angeles sports. His reputation in the industry is built on probing, opinionated reportage and thoughtful analysis, traits that have made him a prominent voice among readers and followers of sports journalism. His commentary—while controversial to some—continues to spark conversation about the intersection of sports, politics, and social responsibility. As the Dodgers prepare to return to the White House for the 2025 celebration, the debate surrounding the appropriateness of such visits is likely to persist among fans, commentators, and critics alike.