Fans demand Dodgers say no to President Trump
Activists call on the Dodgers to honor their Latino roots and skip President Trump’s invitation to the White House.
Few sports franchises in the United States have a deeper bond with Latino fans than the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roughly 40% of their supporters are of Mexican or Latin American heritage, a connection rooted in the 1980s when Fernando Valenzuela became a cultural icon.
Now that identity is at the heart of a growing campaign urging the Dodgers to reject President Donald Trump’s invitation to visit the White House.
Advocates launch campaign urging Dodgers to take a stand
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and several social justice groups have called on the team to decline the traditional White House trip reserved for champions. They argue that accepting would insult the immigrant and working-class communities that form the backbone of the Dodgers’ identity.
“The Dodgers represent a city built by immigrants and working families,” the organization wrote in a statement shared on social media. “We ask that you stand with Los Angeles and skip the White House visit.”
The movement has gained traction across Southern California, with support from churches, civil rights advocates, and immigrant rights organizations.
Growing tension off the field
Recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have added to the unrest in the region. Since May, hundreds of operations have been reported across Los Angeles County, some drawing complaints of abuse and even the wrongful detention of U.S. citizens. The climate of fear has fueled calls for the Dodgers to take a public stance on an issue that directly affects much of their fan base.
NDLON says it has sent more than 5,000 letters to the Dodgers’ front office and plans to distribute another 800. In Pasadena, All Saints Church organized a rally featuring a poster inspired by artist Sergio D. Robleto’s work, depicting an ICE agent arresting a figure representing Fernando Valenzuela. The piece, according to the artist, captures the contradiction of a community that reveres its team yet questions its silence on immigration policy.
Criticism extends to ownership group
The backlash has also reached Dodgers chairman Mark Walter and Guggenheim Partners, the financial firm that owns the team. Advocates have highlighted Guggenheim’s reported ties to Geo Group, a private prison company that operates immigration detention centers. A parallel petition on MoveOn.com is calling for the Dodgers to sever any financial connections with the firm.
Dodgers and the White House: A familiar controversy
The franchise faced similar criticism in 2024 after visiting the White House to celebrate its previous championship.
For decades, Latino fans have been a defining force for the Dodgers, filling the stands at Chavez Ravine even during years without a title. Now, members of that same community are asking their team to show solidarity by staying home instead of visiting Trump’s White House. During the championship drought years, it was the Latino fan base that took it upon themselves to go to Chavez Ravine to support the baseball team; now, part of that community is asking their team to refrain from visiting the White House because of immigration policy.
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