Home
In a celebratory event at the White House on Monday, April 7, former President Donald Trump hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers following their World Series triumph over the New York Yankees. The gathering included a special shoutout to superstar Shohei Ohtani and a subtle jab at some political figures.
Trump Applauds Ohtani’s Stardom
During the ceremony, Trump greeted two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani and didn't hold back on the compliments.
“He looks like a movie star. He’s got a good future, I’m telling you,”
Trump remarked after shaking the Japanese icon’s hand.
Ohtani recently wrapped up a record-setting season where he became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season—cementing his role in the Dodgers' championship run.
Political Jab Sparks ReactionsTrump briefly shifted the tone from sports to politics, making a pointed comment during the event.
“We have a couple senators here. I just don’t particularly like them, so I won’t introduce them,”
he quipped, prompting laughter from the audience.
Though his statement was widely interpreted as a dig at Democratic lawmakers, White House officials later clarified that neither Senator Alex Padilla nor Representative Adam Schiff were in attendance.
Return of a Presidential Sports Tradition
Reliving a time-worn American custom, the honoree presidents invite championship-winning teams to visit the White House, and this visit by the Dodgers did indeed revive that custom. Occasionally, but not frequently, the practice had been interrupted by the previous presidency of Trump, during which some teams had refused to attend, including the Golden State Warriors and the U.S. women's national soccer team.
This time, however, Dodgers players showed up as a united front. Notably, All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts, who once opted out of a White House visit while playing for the Red Sox, attended in support of his current team.
Some players have actions or views to express.
As for the event itself, pitcher Blake Treinen publicly hailed the former president at the event, claiming that Trump was:
"the greatest president" of his lifetime.
While the event had moments of jubilation, it also rekindled discussions about the nexus of sport and politics, a perennial subject when teams visit the presidential abode.
A Celebrate with Mixed Emotions
While Trump would be the one who would be receiving most of the acclaim for the praise he offered Ohtani, it was also his political connections that added more controversy to dodge territory, in a way underlining how national sporting occasions often intrude on public discourse, especially when political figures have an invested interest in them.
ADVERTISEMENT
