Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Plaschke has labeled the Los Angeles Dodgers "tone deaf" for accepting an invitation to the White House to celebrate their World Series championship. Plaschke, in an opinion piece, stated that the team's decision to visit the White House was "an insult to their fans."
Plaschke's criticism centers on the perception that accepting the invitation, especially from President Donald Trump, alienates a significant portion of the Dodgers' fanbase, particularly its largely Hispanic demographic. He questioned the team's decision to "embrace the person trying to tear this city apart," referring to President Trump and his administration's policies.
The reporter noted that several other championship teams, including the 2017 Golden State Warriors, the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles, and the 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder, declined invitations to the White House during Trump's presidency. Plaschke highlighted that the Dodgers would be visiting the White House for the second time, implying a lack of consistency with other teams' stances.
He specifically referenced the ICE raids that occurred months after the Dodgers' first White House visit, stating that "The man inhabiting the office rained terror on Los Angeles with the midsomer ICE raids that changed the lives of thousands." Plaschke argued that many affected by these raids were Dodgers fans, a fanbase with a significant immigrant population.
Plaschke also drew a parallel between the Dodgers' decision and the legacy of Jackie Robinson, stating, "An organization cannot boast of sharing a uniform with Jackie Robinson while sharing a very public afternoon with President Trump." The article suggests Plaschke views this as an insinuation that the team's visit aligns with policies that opposed figures like Jackie Robinson.
Furthermore, Plaschke criticized the Dodgers for their support of LGBTQ+ Pride Night, contrasting it with what he characterized as normalizing "the morality of President Trump" by visiting the White House. He suggested the team should reconsider its decision for "common human decency."
In his concluding remarks, Plaschke referred to the team as "losers" if they proceeded with the visit, asserting that "The president has treated the Dodgers fans with a careless disregard for their basic community, and the Dodgers need to let him know that is not OK."
Conversely, the reporting suggests that Plaschke's critique reflects a common sentiment among liberal sports media, who may view a White House visit under Trump as problematic. The piece argues that Plaschke's stance is politically motivated and hypocritical, particularly in light of endorsements of political candidates by other athletes and coaches. The author of the original report countered Plaschke's points, suggesting that deporting undocumented immigrants is a policy matter, not inherently racist, and that visiting the White House is an honor for the championship achievement rather than an endorsement of the president.