The 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers have accepted an invitation to visit the White House. It’s a tradition for the President to invite the reigning champion to visit the White House the next time they’re in town to play one of the local teams. The Dodgers will be in town to play the Washington Nationals from 7 April through 9 April. The team will visit the White House on 7 April.
Donald Trump is not a fan of California, nor is Los Angeles a fan of him. In the 2024 Presidential election, Trump received only 31.9% of the vote in Los Angeles County. Considering how divisive Trump is and how much he dislikes California, it’s unfortunate the Dodgers didn’t decide to just skip the visit.
According to Dodgers team president Stan Kasten, the visit is not political:
This [has] nothing to do with politics. For everyone in this room, this is about what they get as their reward for being world champions, getting to the White House. I think there are probably people in this room who have different points of view on politics. No one thought this trip is about politics, it’s about celebrating their world championship.
Do the Los Angeles Dodgers need to celebrate more?
Kasten is wrong to say the visit has nothing to do with politics. Trump will make sure to bring up politics, perhaps even using the occasion to insult Los Angeles or California some more.