Amid ICE raids, Dodgers’ Dave Roberts accepts White House trip, sparking controversy
Dave Roberts defends his trip to the White House out of institutional respect, while fans and the press question his stance.
In Los Angeles, few figures carry as much weight as Jackie Robinson. His name is not just a statue or a date on the calendar. It is a constant reminder that baseball can be a political act, even when it pretends not to be.
That is why the possibility of the Dodgers visiting the White House in April to celebrate their latest World Series title has opened an uncomfortable rift between tradition, social conscience, and expediency.
The criticism is not just coming from fans on social media. It is being heard in the local press, from civic organisations, and across a city shaped by migration and diversity. For many, posing in front of Donald Trump, the President of the United States, in the current context is not a neutral gesture but a direct contradiction of Robinson’s legacy, a man who understood sport as a platform, not a refuge.
Robinson was not a silent symbol. He spoke out for civil rights, challenged both political parties, and paid the price. In 1944, as an army lieutenant, he refused to ride in the back of a bus. He was charged with insubordination and later acquitted. Years afterwards, as a public figure, he uttered a phrase that still resonates today:
“The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time.”
Those words carry renewed weight as the team that broke Major League Baseball’s colour barrier debates whether to accept an invitation that has become more than a sporting celebration.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager and one of the most respected voices within the organisation, has been clear. For him, the visit is not about the person who holds the presidency but about the office itself.
“I’m a baseball manager. That’s my job. I was raised by a man who served our country for 30 years to respect the highest office in the land,” he told The Los Angeles Times a few days ago.
Roberts insists he is not trying to send political messages or become a spokesperson for anything beyond the diamond.
“No matter who’s in office, I’m going to the White House. I’ve never tried to be a politician. I’ll follow tradition.”
The problem is that tradition no longer exists in a vacuum. While the visit is being discussed, the United States is going through a period marked by immigration raids, protests, and deaths in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents. These cases have been questioned even by international journalistic investigations, such as the BBC’s fact-checking of the killing of Alex Pretti, which found no evidence that he was carrying a weapon.
In that context, organisations such as the National Farmworker Network have publicly asked the Dodgers not to attend the White House.
“Los Angeles is a city built by immigrants, working families, and dreamers. We celebrate our champions, but we also stand up for justice and dignity.”
The club’s official silence has done little to quell the debate. Dodgers president Stan Kasten has simply stated that no decision has been made. However, the team will be in Washington in early April and will then return home for Jackie Robinson Day, a coincidence that makes any resolution even more delicate.
On paper, the Dodgers look ready to dominate again. With Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and key additions like Kyle Tucker, the dream of a third consecutive title is within reach. But before the first pitch is thrown, the club carries a moral burden that cannot be resolved with statistics or payrolls.
“To build leadership, one must base one’s position on what is right, not on what is convenient,” said Jackie Robinson.
This is what Dave Roberts had to say when he was asked if the Dodgers should visit the White House:
— Bienvenido (@bienvenido_us) February 2, 2026
I was raised - by a man who served our country for 30 years, to respect the highest office… it doesn’t matter who is the office, I’m going to the White House. - Dave Roberts,… pic.twitter.com/IVSrUXcC7j
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For many in Los Angeles, the White House visit has become a secondary concern. That helps explain why Dave Roberts’ defence, focused on institutional respect, has not managed to quiet the noise.
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