Mookie Betts turns down White House event on the team’s scheduled day off.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers took a trip to the White House, where President Donald Trump congratulated the back-to-back World Series champions. The Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series last October to become the first repeat champions in a quarter-century. However, one player did not attend the event.
Mookie Betts, the Dodgers’ star right fielder who is in his sixth season with the team, did not attend the event. The visit fell on a scheduled off day, and Betts said he preferred to spend the time with his family. He attended the Dodgers’ previous White House visit in 2025.
The Dodgers originally planned to go to the White House in April during a series against the Washington Nationals, but the busy beginning-of-season schedule did not permit it. The team was already in the nation’s capital during the off day between a just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens, so this date worked best for them.
During the event, Trump welcomed the team back, “I’m thrilled to say ‘Welcome back to the White House,’ and maybe I’ll see you again next year – I hope.”
The tradition of championship baseball teams visiting the White House dates back to 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the undefeated Cincinnati Red Stockings, widely recognized as baseball’s first fully professional team. The modern World Series, however, was not established until 1903.
During the 2026 event, Trump noted the achievements of Shohei Ohtani, who was named league MVP for the third straight season and hit a franchise-record 55 home runs in 2025. Even comparing him to the legendary Babe Ruth.
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The Dodgers presented the 47th president of the United States with a No. 47 Dodgers jersey.