The Dodgers already betrayed Los Angeles once, now they’re on track to do it again.
Last weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that he would attend the White House as part of the celebration after winning last year’s World Series title.
This is not a casual remark—especially not in the city of Los Angeles, which the President of the United States has declared war on.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Los Angeles Times that he plans to attend, saying:
“I was raised — by a man who served our country for 30 years — to respect the highest office in our country. For me, it doesn’t matter who is in the office; I’m going to go to the White House. I’ve never tried to be political. … I’m going to continue to do what tradition says and not make political statements, because I am not a politician.”
This statement sparked outrage among Angelenos on social media shortly after a story was published by Parriva.
“Dodgers don’t give a fuck about their fans despite the majority being Latinos,” wrote @klaudiaxog on @parrivalatinx.
“So Dave Roberts is cool with Child Rapist!!… That’s so disgusting,” posted @juicy_ca.
“I mean how down are you for the cause?” wrote @iliketurtlesnbeer.
“Well, he just lost my follow,” wrote @gabriel_rowland.
“I’m glad I dumped the @dodger,” wrote @xicaspatas.
“If Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers choose a White House photo-op over the immigrant families who built this city, that’s not leadership—that’s betrayal… Stand with the La Loma families you displaced…” wrote @artfullmarlene.
Hundreds of Angelenos expressed their anger in the comments on @parrivalatinx.
In April 2025, the Dodgers made the same “shame parade” to the White House, amid rumors that some players who disagreed would not attend. But they did. Residents of Los Angeles—and especially the Latino community—expressed outrage after that visit, once Trump declared his war on California and began ICE operations targeting the city’s Latino community.
The Dodgers have been criticized for not openly condemning ICE raids. In addition, owner Mark Walter is an investor in a company that owns the prisons where detained immigrants are held, as well as in technology companies that act as “body hunters” to locate undocumented people.
This is completely inconsistent for a franchise where 40% of its fanbase is Latino.
“Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants, working families, and dreamers. We celebrate our champions, but we also stand for justice, dignity, and love for our community,” the nonprofit National Day Laborer Organization Network recently posted on Instagram, calling on the Dodgers to decline President Trump’s latest invitation. “Dodgers, stay with us. Stand with the city that has always stood with you.”
Roberts didn’t seem to care about any of this. He could have waited until the Dodgers organization issued an official statement. It appears he wanted to “steal second base,” but for the community of Los Angeles, he came up short.
