Details have not yet been finalized but the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to visit the White House in 2026 for another celebration of their World Series title.
Last season the Dodgers participated in a ceremony in the East Room ahead of a road matchup against the Washington Nationals. It was presumed that it was going to hold true again this year, but that possibility was ruled out.
While specifics still need to be sorted out, Clayton Kershaw said he will reunite with his former Dodgers teammates to be part of festivities at the White House, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times.
The Latino community of Los Angeles, 40 percent of Dodgers fans, has asked the team not to attend the White House in response to the attacks against Latinos in the country, that does not seem important to Kershaw.
“I went when President Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”
The Dodgers faced criticism last season when announcing they had accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump. Mookie Betts initially said he was going to evaluate whether or not to accompany the team, and ultimately did so.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten and manager Dave Roberts both expressed the visit was not meant to be any sort of political statement but rather keeping with the longheld tradition of professional sports champions being celebrated at the White House.
Dodgers Facing Logistical Hurdles for White House Visit During 2026 Season
Last month it was reported the Los Angeles Dodgers accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House in recognition of defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 World Series.
However, no details of the expected trip were provided at the time, and there continues to be uncertainty over the timing. It had been presumed the Dodgers would plan their visit with President Trump and other politicians to coincide with playing a road series against the Washington Nationals.
But according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group, that is not when the Dodgers are going to be part of a ceremony at the White House.
The Dodgers’ first road trip of the regular season will start in Washington with three games against the Nationals on April 3-5. But sources confirmed that the Dodgers will not visit the White House.
Not planning to tie together a trip to the nation’s capital with also going to the White House is a different strategy than what the Dodgers employed last season.
