​The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to visit President Donald Trump at the White House on July 23, but one of their top stars will not be making the trip. Eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts said Saturday that he is unlikely to join his teammates in Washington, D.C., choosing instead to spend the day with his family following the birth of his third child, according to Jack Harris of the California Post. “I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” Betts explained. “We just had a baby. You don’t get many days off. They’re coming [on the road trip]. And I just want to hang out with the fam. That’s really kind of it. But people are going to make it a whole bunch of other stuff.”
Betts stressed that his decision is not politically motivated. “If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don’t, people are gonna hate me,” he said. “So instead of trying to make everyone else happy, I’m gonna think about myself and my family.” He added that while he doesn’t want to be dragged into politics simply because of his status, he acknowledged that public figures often face pressure. “That’s just the cards I’m dealt,” he said. “So it is what it is.”
This marks Betts’ fourth World Series title chase. He skipped the White House visit after helping the Red Sox win in 2018 during Trump’s first year in office, opting not to attend for what he described as a personal decision rather than a political statement. He and the rest of the 2020 Dodgers did visit President Joe Biden. After the 2024 title, Betts remained noncommittal at first but ultimately joined his teammates, indicating his presence was about supporting the group. He also said he regretted not going in 2018, reflecting, “I made it about me.”
Betts has visited the White House twice, once under each president. He is in his seventh season with the Dodgers and is currently posting a .238/.298/.424 slash line while delivering standout defense at shortstop. Following a slow start, he has picked up his hitting, recording a .323 batting average with five homers since June 13.
Betts won’t be the only Dodgers favorite skipping the White House visit. Veteran utility man Kiké Hernández confirmed he will not attend, as he will be on a rehab assignment returning from a left oblique strain. When asked if he would have gone if he were healthy, Hernández replied, “Probably not.” Like Betts, Hernández attended the White House last year. He did indicate, however, that he was unhappy about the situation, though his stated reason was not solely political.
The Dodgers’ planned trip to the White House comes as part of a routine tradition that has seen players visit in conjunction with road trips to face the Nationals or Orioles. This season’s schedule altered that pattern, as the Dodgers’ earlier series against the Nationals featured three day games, making a White House visit impractical. Instead, the team will take advantage of an off day between games against the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets to make the journey south. Betts’ and Hernández’s decisions add to a growing conversation about athletes and political expressions, particularly when a team with a national platform is involved.