Dodgers White House visit brings Trump praise and Rose Garden talk
Trump honored the Dodgers' World Series title, praised Shohei Ohtani and showed off Rose Garden upgrades during the White House ceremony.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Dodgers White House visit on Thursday gave President Donald Trump a chance to celebrate Los Angeles’ World Series title, spotlight Shohei Ohtani and spend a surprising amount of time talking up his renovated Rose Garden.
Video from the White House ceremony shows Trump opening the event by pointing to changes made to the Rose Garden before turning to the baseball business at hand. He said the area had been improved for women wearing high heels and criticized former President Joe Biden while describing the upgrades.
The celebration marked the Dodgers’ visit as reigning World Series champions, a customary stop for title-winning teams. The tradition usually gives presidents a photo-op with athletes and gives teams a formal moment of recognition at the White House.
Why did the Dodgers visit the White House?
The Dodgers were invited after winning the World Series. Championship teams in major U.S. sports are often honored at the White House, though individual players may choose whether to attend.
Once Trump moved from the garden tour to the roster, he praised Dodgers ownership and several players. He singled out Ohtani, describing him as a rare two-way talent and comparing that role to Babe Ruth, according to video of the ceremony.
Trump also mentioned members of the pitching staff and named Max Muncy, Clayton Kershaw, Freddie Freeman, Miguel Rojas and Andy Pages while reviewing the club’s title run. The remarks mixed player shoutouts with light jokes, according to the ceremony footage.
Two notable Dodgers names were not part of Trump’s remarks: Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernández. TMZ Sports reported that both players had said before the event that they were not interested in attending.
Trump said he had not closely followed the Dodgers’ 2026 season because he was occupied with “Iran and other things.” He added that manager Dave Roberts had told him Los Angeles currently has the best record in baseball, raising the possibility of another visit if the Dodgers keep rolling.
The event also included the classic championship gift exchange. Trump received a personalized Dodgers jersey and a World Series ring, according to video from the ceremony.
After getting the ring, Trump returned to the Rose Garden upgrades, including the detail that the seat cushions are now four inches thick. Holding the championship jewelry, he joked about whether he would need to report it.
Dan Scavino, a Trump aide, posted on X that Trump welcomed Ohtani to the Oval Office again and gave him a Presidential Challenge Coin. The post included video of the exchange.
The ceremony did not end with the outdoor remarks. Trump invited the team to see the Oval Office after the White House event, according to the video and Scavino’s post.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.