Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their World Cup in 2024 with President Donald Trump in the White House on Monday and will start a series of sports celebrations in Washington this month.
Ohio State Buckey’s football team will follow Dodgers on April 14 after defeating Notre Dame fighting in the national championship. Philadelphia Eagles goes to April 28.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Shortstop Mookie Betts throws to the first base for one out to Phillies in Philadelphia on April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
The planned visits seem to signal a reassurance of tension between athletes and the president. Trump abolished famous Eagles’ invitation in the White House in 2018 after a disputed back and forth between him and NFL players over kneeling for the national anthem as an acceptable form of protest against racial injustice. As the rumors swirled around the Eagles would go this year, the team confirmed in February that they would accept an invitation.
The relationship between athletes and Trump is heated, which became clear during the presidential campaign last year. Players from MLB and NFL along with UFC warriors emulated Trump’s dance traits on the field. 49ers star Nick Bosa even flashed a “Make America Great Again” hat after a game. The president is also routinely seen in college football matches, welcoming golfers in the White House and the game rounds with NFL players and golfers.
Dodgers star Mookie Betts especially changed his tune about whether he would visit the White House.
He was at the Boston Red Soxs 2018 World Series Championship Team beating Dodgers. He decided to boycott the visit back then, but last week he did not complain.
“This is not about me. I don’t want anything about me. This is about dodgers because these boys were there for me,” he said via the Los Angeles Times.
“Whatever I say or what I do, people will take it as political. But that’s definitely not what it is. This is about what Dodgers were able to achieve last year.”
In 2019, Roberts suggested to the Los Angeles Times that he would skip a visit to the White House after Trump criticized Roberts during the 2018 World Series for making a pitching change.
But his tune also changed and now said it is a “great honor” to be able to go to the White House.
“It was not a formal conversation that we had as a ball club,” he said via ESPN. “It’s definitely a huge honor to get the invitation to the White House. It allows us to celebrate our championship in 2024. To my understanding, every world champion gets that honor, so it’s a great honor for all of us.”
President Donald Trump moves while inviting Washington Nationals Catcher Kurt Suzuki to the podium during a ceremony honored the World Cup in the White House on November 4, 2019. (Geoff Burke-usa Today Sports)
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Trump also made sure to invite Eagles despite previous animosity.
“We just felt that this is a time -controlled tradition invited by the White House,” said team owner Jeffrey Lurie on Wednesday via Pro Football Talk.
“So there was no restraint at all. Being celebrated in the White House is a good thing. There were special circumstances (in 2018) that were very different, and then this kind was an obvious choice and looking forward to it.
“When you grow up and you hear about, ‘Oh, the championship team should go to the White House,’ That’s what this is. And then we didn’t have that opportunity and now we do. I think we all look forward to it.”
Florida Panthers was the first team to visit Trump and celebrated their Stanley Cup title. Matthew Tkachuk spoke glowing about the ability to go to the White House.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for having us today. We really appreciate it. Being one of the few Americans who love this country so much, it’s such an incredible day for myself. You wake up every day really grateful to be an American. So thank you,” he said.
Tkachuk then told the president about how special the group of men behind him was. Florida appeared in the Stanley Cup final for the second time in a row last season and was able to finally get over the hump and win the trophy for the first time in the franchise story.
President Donald Trump poses with Aleksander Barkov, Left, and Matthew Tkachuk with a Jersey and Hockey Stick during a ceremony with Florida Panthers to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory, February 3, 2025, in the White House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“This team and this group of guys are special,” he added. “Everyone sees what we do on the ice, but I have built ties with these guys that I want the rest of my life. I’m eternally grateful to these guys. We are forever masters and I will always remember these guys.”
