As excited fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers fill the stadium for the 2025 Opening Day afternoon game against the Detroit Tigers, many people across social media and beyond are expressing disappointment and even anger over the team’s March 25 announcement on X that they will visit the White House early next month to celebrate the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series Championship.

“In keeping with long-standing baseball tradition, President [Donald] Trump has invited the 2024 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House when they play in Washington D.C. on April 7. The Dodgers look forward to visiting the White House and celebrating our title,” read the post.

“So disappointing! Especially given that this regime erased Jackie Robinson’s military record from our history,” wrote Nicole Pando Vicioso on the Facebook fan page Dodger Nation, which has over 500,000 followers. 

Others posted similar comments. Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, was also a military veteran. His service with the U.S. Army during World War II was temporarily removed from the Department of Defense website as part of Trump’s efforts to purge references to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“What better way to show the president what a DEI team can do, led by a Japanese guy, Shohei Ohtani, African American Mookie Betts, Canadian Freddy Freeman, Dominican Teo Hernandez and a half Japanese American coach,” commented Kenneth Reyes.

Christopher Castro of Sylmar, who got together with a group of fellow Dodger fans at TacosWay in San Fernando to watch the first game of the season, also emphasized what a diverse team the world champions are.

Christopher Castro of Sylmar (left), who got together with fellow Dodger fans at TacosWay in San Fernando to watch the first game of the season March 27. (SFVS/el Sol Photo/Maria Luisa Torres)

“Think about who’s on this field right now – you have Hispanics, you have African Americans, you have Asians – it’s a huge melting pot,” he told the San Fernando Valley Sun/el Sol. 

Castro, who was born and raised in LA, said he’s a lifelong Dodger fan, and although he was surprised and disappointed that the team accepted the invitation to the White House, he said, “I don’t blame them.”

“I don’t know where the decision is coming from – is it coming from the higher ups? Is it coming from the team?” said Castro, adding that he hopes some players will decide not to show up to meet Trump in person on April 7. Regardless, Castro said he will remain a devoted fan.

Other fans expressed support for both the team and the current administration.

“Perfect way to top off a perfect year. The greatest team and the greatest president in the [people’s] house!” commented Charlene Fitzpatrick.

The day after the White House visit, members of the Dodgers will also visit Capitol Hill.

During Trump’s first term, 10 championship sports teams didn’t visit the White House. This year, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visited Trump in early February, and the reigning National Football League’s Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles accepted an invitation to visit the White House on April 28.

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