Liberal media figures are facing renewed criticism after prominent Los Angeles Times sports columnists publicly urged the Los Angeles Dodgers to boycott a traditional White House visit with President Donald Trump.
The Dodgers, who recently secured a World Series championship, would typically be invited to Washington as part of a long-standing, bipartisan tradition honoring championship teams. However, some members of the media argue the organization should break from that tradition due to disagreement with Trump administration policies.
Veteran Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke made the case in a Friday opinion column, encouraging Dodgers players to refuse a White House visit. Plaschke framed his argument as a moral stance rather than a political one, claiming the issue goes beyond sports.
“This is about asking them to be people,” Plaschke wrote, asserting that players should distance themselves from the administration while federal immigration enforcement continues nationwide.
Plaschke specifically criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, arguing the Dodgers should not appear at the White House while immigration raids are being conducted in Southern California. Supporters of the administration counter that ICE is enforcing existing federal law and prioritizing public safety.
The columnist also revisited the Dodgers’ White House visit following their 2024 championship, claiming circumstances have changed since then and that a new visit would generate backlash. He attributed recent national tensions to immigration enforcement, a claim critics say stretches beyond the scope of sports journalism.
Plaschke’s column followed a similar opinion piece published earlier this month by fellow Los Angeles Times sportswriter Bill Shaikin. In his commentary, Shaikin argued it would be inappropriate for the Dodgers — a franchise historically linked to civil rights icon Jackie Robinson — to appear alongside President Trump.
Shaikin also referenced unrelated violent incidents in Minneapolis as reasons the team should decline the invitation, despite no direct connection to the Dodgers, the White House, or immigration policy.
The coordinated push by sportswriters has drawn criticism from fans who say politics is increasingly overshadowing athletics. For decades, championship visits to the White House have been extended to teams regardless of party affiliation, serving as a nonpartisan celebration of achievement.
Critics argue that urging teams to boycott the White House reflects a broader trend of political activism within legacy media outlets, even in sports coverage. They say such efforts risk alienating fans who want sports to remain focused on competition, teamwork, and national pride — not partisan messaging.
As the debate continues, many supporters of the tradition maintain that honoring a championship team should rise above politics, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office.