Dodgers star Mookie Betts regrets attending Trump White House visit amid backlash

On Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers used an off day to celebrate their latest World Series championship with President Donald Trump at the White House.

While such visits have become a common tradition for major American sports teams, the Dodgers' decision to accept Trump's invitation has drawn scrutiny from local fans. One of the team's superstar leaders, Mookie Betts, has found himself navigating the political fallout.

Unlike some recent players who have taken firm political stances, Betts has vacillated between accepting and declining Trump's invitations. That evolving approach has sparked discussion after nearly every championship celebration — and this week was no different.

Betts Acknowledges Regret Over White House Visit

Speaking this week, Betts admitted that his decision to attend the White House ceremony for the Dodgers' 2024 championship continues to weigh on him after the backlash that followed.

"Last year, I think I did it and I realized I didn't do it for me," Betts told The Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett. "On top of that, you make someone happy, you make someone else unhappy. I don't want to keep doing that to myself. That's pretty much it."

Betts also acknowledged that no decision would satisfy everyone, offering an apology for skipping this year's planned visit.

"I apologize," Betts added. "To the people that it's going to piss off. Because it's going to piss somebody off."

His latest comments marked a notable shift from last year, when he said attending the White House ceremony was about celebrating with his teammates rather than making a political statement. Betts previously skipped the Boston Red Sox's 2019 White House visit after the club won the 2018 World Series, but attended the Dodgers' visit to President Joe Biden in 2021 following the 2020 championship.

Political Spotlight Intensifies Around Dodgers' White House Visit

The Dodgers' decision to accept their latest White House invitation generated significant attention beyond baseball, particularly as political tensions involving Los Angeles have intensified this year.

"Ever since the Dodgers visited the White House last spring to commemorate their 2024 World Series win, President Trump has launched a barrage of metaphorical fastballs trying to hurt Los Angeles — in the courts, in speeches and on social media, but especially via his deportation deluge that's starting to simmer again," Gustavo Arellano wrote for the Los Angeles Times, urging the team to "stand up" for the city while meeting with Trump.

Betts' latest comments suggest he has grown weary of becoming part of that broader political conversation. He has said he skipped the latest invitation because he preferred to spend the off day with his family, stressing that it was not a political decision.

As the Dodgers continue to surge toward a third-straight title, Betts may face yet another White House visit decision in the near future.