Family Priorities Take Precedence for Betts
The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to make an official visit to the White House on July 23 to meet with President Donald Trump. However, the team will be missing one of its most prominent stars. Eight-time All-Star Mookie Betts announced on Saturday that he intends to skip the trip to Washington, D.C., citing a desire to spend time with his family following the recent birth of his third child.
Regarding his decision, Betts stated: «I'm not trying to make this a whole big deal. We just had a baby. You don't get many days off. They're coming [on the road trip]. And just want to hang out with the fam. That's really kind of it. But people are gonna make it a whole bunch of other stuff.»
Addressing Potential Political Speculation
Betts emphasized that his choice is strictly personal and not driven by political considerations, though he remains aware of the public narrative. «If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don't, people are gonna hate me. So instead of trying to make everyone else happy, I'm gonna think about myself and my family,» he remarked. He further acknowledged that due to his public profile, there is often an attempt to frame his personal choices through a political lens, noting, «That's just the cards I'm dealt.»
This marks a shift from his previous appearances. While he chose not to attend the White House during the 2018 championship celebration with the Boston Red Sox, he did join his Dodgers teammates during their visit with President Joe Biden in 2024, an experience he later described as focusing on team unity rather than individual preference.
Other Absences Within the Roster
Betts is not the only player planning to sit out the visit. Veteran utility player Kiké Hernández has also confirmed his absence, though he cited a physical injury, noting he will be on a rehab assignment while recovering from a left oblique strain. When pressed on whether he would have attended if he were fully healthy, Hernández candidly admitted, «Probably not.»
These absences highlight a divergence from the narrative presented by team leadership. While Dodgers president Stan Kasten previously maintained that the entire roster wished to participate in such events, the reality of this year’s visit shows a growing number of players opting out, signaling a more complex dynamic within the clubhouse regarding these traditional ceremonial appearances.