Los Angeles Dodgers to Accept White House Invitation for World Series Celebration

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to accept an invitation to visit the White House to commemorate their victory in the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. According to a White House representative who spoke with the New York Post, the team is in discussions about attending, though no definitive date has been confirmed yet.

Despite some controversy surrounding the visit, largely due to tensions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Dodgers are expected to follow the tradition of visiting the White House as World Series champions. The customary celebration has faced calls for cancellation amid criticism of the administration’s immigration policies.

“I am going to continue to try to do what tradition says and not try to make political statements because I am not a politician,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to the Los Angeles Times, indicating his intent to participate in the White House visit.

The Dodgers have a history of attending White House ceremonies to celebrate their championships in recent years. They visited in 2021 during President Joe Biden’s administration and returned in April under President Donald Trump. Despite some fan opposition, the team prioritizes tradition.

Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw expressed the honor he felt in visiting the White House, stating to the New York Post, “The White House is an incredible honor to get to go see, regardless of who’s in office. We went in 2021. We went this time… But at the end of the day, getting to go to the White House, getting to see the Oval Office, getting to meet the President of the United States, that’s stuff that you can’t lose sight of no matter what you believe.”

However, not all team members share this sentiment. Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol opted to decline the invitation, choosing instead to stay at what he called “my brown house.”

Following their championship triumph against Toronto, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), an advocacy group for immigration rights, filed an online petition urging the Dodgers to forego any future White House visits if invited again in 2026. The petition called for the Dodgers to align with the values of unity, integrity, and diversity, and to stand in solidarity with the immigrant communities they represent.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers have always been more than a baseball team — they’re part of the spirit of who we are as a city,” the petition stated. “By visiting a president who has used his power to harm the most vulnerable, the team would be turning its back on the very people who fill the stadiums, wear the jerseys, and give this team its heart.”

The Dodgers’ relationship with ICE has been contentious, especially after an incident in June 2025, when the team claimed it denied ICE agents entry to their stadium. ICE, however, disputed these claims, asserting they never attempted to access the stadium. The team later clarified that ICE had requested access to parking lots, but ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied ever being there in any official capacity.

Looking ahead to the 2026 MLB season, the Dodgers are anticipated to be strong contenders once again, particularly after acquiring high-profile players like All-Star closer Edwin Diaz and All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to bolster their roster.