The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed that they will visit the White House to meet with President Donald Trump, in recognition of their World Series title last November. The meeting is scheduled for next Monday, April 7, to join the tradition of receiving a congratulation from the president as champions of one of the four most important leagues in the United States
In addition, the Los Angeles team announced that, the day after their visit to the White House, some members of the team will also visit the Capitol, taking advantage of the fact that they will participate in a three-game series against the Washington Nationals “Following baseball tradition, President Trump has invited the 2024 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House when they play in Washington DC on April 7. The Dodgers look forward to the visit and the celebration of their title,” the Dodgers confirmed in a statement released through their social networks
Not all Dodgers players agree with the visit
The team’s decision to meet with President Trump has generated controversy within the team, as some of them do not agree with the president’s political stance and decisions, mainly because of his stance on racial and immigration issues, mainly against the Latino communities, which represent a very important segment of the population in Southern California
Other criticisms of the new Trump administration were added to the Department of Defense’s decision to remove from its official website some featured stories of minority figures in the US such as the Navajo Code Talkers, who helped the Allies in World War II, Ira Hayes, a Pima Marine who participated in the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima, and the pioneer of African-American baseball players in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, who broke the racial barrier from the 1947 season.
This decision generated great controversy, as Robinson is considered an icon in the civil rights movement.
Public pressure forced the Trump administration to reinstate the profiles of some of these minority personalities, including Robinson. In addition, the decision led to the firing of the Pentagon spokesman. While the Trump administration claimed that this decision was a mistake and that they never intended to remove them
Mookie Betts doesn’t know if he’ll go to the meeting
In addition, the Los Angeles Dodgers roster has one of its main figures in a role openly opposed to the political stance of Donald Trump. It is their starting shortstop, Mookie Betts, who turned down an invitation to the White House during Trump’s presidency in 2019, when he was playing for the Boston Red Sox
On Tuesday, the baseball player told Jack Harris of the LA Times that he does not know if he will travel with the team and that he will first discuss the situation with his family to determine if it is appropriate
In 2019, Betts and nine other Red Sox players refused to meet with President Trump, in a group that also did not include the team’s manager, Alex Cora.“I will not go. I decided not to go,” Betts told the Boston Globe at the time
For his part, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that he will be present:
“It is certainly a great honor to receive the invitation to the White House. It allows us to celebrate our 2024 championship. As I understand it, every World Series champion receives that honor. I respect the office. It is the highest in our country, certainly in the world. So I’m looking forward to it,” Roberts said.
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