Dodgers to kick off string of title celebrations with Trump at White House

The Los Angeles Dodgers volition observe their 2024 World Series title with President Donald Trump astatine the White House connected Monday, kicking disconnected a drawstring of sports celebrations successful Washington this month.

The Ohio State Buckeyes shot squad volition travel the Dodgers connected April 14 aft defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish successful the nationalist championship. The Philadelphia Eagles spell to the White House connected April 28.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to archetypal basal for an retired against the Phillies successful Philadelphia connected April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

The planned visits look to awesome a calming of tensions betwixt athletes and the president. Trump famously rescinded the Eagles’ White House invitation successful 2018 aft a contentious back-and-forth betwixt him and NFL players implicit kneeling for the nationalist anthem arsenic an acceptable signifier of protestation against radical injustice. As rumors swirled astir whether the Eagles would spell this year, the squad confirmed successful February they would judge an invitation.

The narration betwixt athletes and Trump has warmed, which became evident during the statesmanlike run past year. Players from MLB and the NFL on with UFC fighters emulated Trump’s creation moves connected the field. 49ers prima Nick Bosa adjacent flashed a "Make America Great Again" chapeau aft a game. The president has besides been routinely seen astatine assemblage shot games, welcoming golfers into the White House and playing rounds with NFL players and golfers.

Dodgers prima Mookie Betts notably changed his tune connected whether helium would sojourn the White House.

He was connected the Boston Red Sox’s 2018 World Series title squad that bushed the Dodgers. He decided to boycott the sojourn then, but past week helium lamented not going.

"This is not astir me. I don’t privation thing to beryllium astir me. This is astir the Dodgers, due to the fact that these boys were determination for me," helium said, via the Los Angeles Times.

"No substance what I accidental oregon what I do, radical are going to instrumentality it arsenic political. But that’s decidedly not what it is. This is astir what the Dodgers were capable to execute past year."

In 2019, Roberts suggested to the Los Angeles Times helium would skip a White House sojourn aft Trump criticized Roberts during the 2018 World Series for making a pitching change.

But his tune changed arsenic well, present saying it is simply a "great honor" to beryllium capable to spell to the White House.

"It wasn't a ceremonial speech that we had arsenic a shot club," helium said, via ESPN. "It's surely a immense grant to get the invitation to the White House. It allows america to observe our 2024 championship. To my understanding, each World Series champion gets that honor, truthful it's a large grant for each of us."

President Donald Trump gestures portion inviting Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki to the podium during a ceremonial honoring the 2019 World Series champion Nationals astatine the White House connected Nov. 4, 2019. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

PATRICK MAHOMES' MOM HAS 2-WORD REACTION TO WHITE HOUSE TRIP

Trump made definite to invitation the Eagles arsenic well, contempt erstwhile animosity.

"We conscionable felt this is simply a time-honored contented being invited by the White House," squad proprietor Jeffrey Lurie said Wednesday, via Pro Football Talk. 

"So, determination was nary reticence whatsoever. To beryllium celebrated astatine the White House is simply a bully thing. There were peculiar circumstances (in 2018) that were precise different, and truthful this was benignant of an evident prime and look guardant to it.

"When you turn up, and you perceive about, ‘Oh, the title squad got to spell to the White House,’ that’s what this is. And, so, we didn’t person that accidental and present we do. I deliberation we’re each looking guardant to it."

The Florida Panthers were the archetypal squad to sojourn Trump, celebrating their Stanley Cup title. Matthew Tkachuk spoke glowingly astir the quality to spell to the White House.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for having america today. We greatly admit it. Being 1 of the fewer Americans who loves this state truthful much, it’s specified an unthinkable time for myself. You aftermath up each time truly grateful to beryllium an American. So, convey you," helium said.

Tkachuk past told the president astir however peculiar the radical of men down him were. Florida appeared successful the Stanley Cup Final for the 2nd consecutive clip past play and were capable to yet get implicit the hump and triumph the trophy for the archetypal clip successful franchise history.

President Donald Trump poses with Aleksander Barkov, left, and Matthew Tkachuk with a jersey and hockey instrumentality during a ceremonial with the Florida Panthers to observe their Stanley Cup win, Feb. 3, 2025, astatine the White House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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"This squad and this radical of guys is special," helium added. "Everybody sees what we bash connected the ice, but I’ve built bonds with these guys that I’ll person for the remainder of my life. I’m everlastingly grateful for these guys. We’re everlastingly champs, and I’ll ever retrieve these guys."

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