​Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the team’s planned visit to the White House to celebrate their 2025 World Series championship. Roberts, who has consistently supported maintaining the tradition of teams visiting the White House after clinching a title, was asked to weigh in on choosing to participate while the country faces a divisive political climate. “I’m not a politician,” he said. “I’m doing something that teams have done for decades. That’s where I stand, really. I’m a baseball coach. That’s what I do.” He emphasized that attending the White House visit is entirely optional and up to each player to decide.
Roberts reminded reporters that the Dodgers previously joined President Joe Biden in the White House in 2021, a visit aimed at celebrating the end of their World Series drought. “I hope that we get this invitation every year,” he noted. “Because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House.” The team also capped another White House visit in 2025 to commemorate their 2024 title, this time under President Donald Trump’s administration. The White House ceremony took place in April 2025, with Trump presiding over the event in the East Room and addressing the 2024 champions.
As the team navigates scheduling around the long MLB season, organizers have stressed that going to Washington, D.C. is not a requirement and is contingent on logistics. The Dodgers initially hoped to coordinate a White House visit after a road trip but could not find a suitable window. After exploring various options, the plan settled on July 23, a date that falls on an off day during a road trip that also includes stops in New York and Philadelphia in the days following the All-Star break. Roberts explained that the process involved a great deal of uncertainty at the outset: “There was a lot of unknown. Then we got word, I mean, yesterday or two days ago, that it was official.” From there, the challenge shifted to logistics, requiring a flurry of phone calls, text messages, and internal discussions to make the visit feasible.
Roberts also noted that the decision is, in practice, a player-by-player one. While many teammates may choose to attend, some may opt out for personal or professional reasons. Notably, veteran outfielder Kiké Hernández announced he would not participate in the White House visit due to his current rehabilitation schedule, underscoring that individual circumstances can influence the final attendance list.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers’ willingness to accept the invitation remains clear, reflecting a broader tradition in Major League Baseball of honoring championship teams with a White House visit when feasible. Roberts’ stance—centered on baseball, tradition, and the realities of a professional schedule—frames the discussion as one of respect for history and the practicalities of a demanding season. If circumstances allow, the Dodgers’ July 23 date would provide a historic moment for the club, its players, and their supporters as they continue to celebrate their latest title alongside the ongoing rigor of a championship chase.