Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez Declines White House Visit to Celebrate 2025 World Series Triumph
Kike Hernandez has played in just 2 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers this year as he got injured on the 2nd day after returning in May from an offseason surgery.
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Kike Hernandez (Image via Instagram/@kikehndez)
The Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the White House once again. After repeating as MLB World Series champions, the team was invited yet again to the White House in Washington, D.C., to celebrate their victory. Utility star Kike Hernandez declined the visit this year.
This year, the Dodgers will visit the White House on July 23rd. This will be on their day off between the series against the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.
Despite several calls from fans and some media to boycott the event, most of the team is expected to go and meet President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Hernandez, however, will not be part of the traveling party.
After the visit of the Dodgers was confirmed, a fan on Instagram urged them to snub this visit. In a now-deleted comment, the 3-time World Series winner expressed that he was not going.
On Friday, Hernandez confirmed his absence to the reporters. The 34-year-old expressed that he would not have gone even if he was healthy. At the moment, he is in the middle of a rehab program following an oblique strain.
I probably wouldn’t have gone. But being on a rehab assignment, taking at-bats is more important.
Kike Hernandez said as per Bill Plunkett
Kiké Hernández said he will not be going to the White House when #Dodgers visit July 23 — because he will be on rehab assignment in minors. Would he go if he were on the active roster? “Probably not”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 10, 2026
Last year, the Dodgers went to the White House in April. That time, Freddie Freeman was the one who missed the trip due to an injury.
Hernandez, meanwhile, was part of the team that visited White House in 2025. In an interview with Cultura Sports, he later revealed that he and his teammates spent most of the time waiting in a room.
They had us sit in a room for about three hours. Then they told us to stand up and get in line. We waited for a couple more hours. And then they took us to the stage. The guy gave his speech, and we left.
Kike Hernandez said in 2025
His 2026 season has been filled with injuries. After coming back from an offseason shoulder surgery, he was part of the team for just 2 days before landing on the injured list once again. In the 2 games he has played this year, he was 4-for-4 with a home run, 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has no problem with players skipping White House visit
Kike Hernandez has confirmed that he will not visit the White House with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year. His manager, Dave Roberts, is okay with this decision and has no problem with players skipping the trip.
As per the annual tradition, the reigning champions of a league are invited to the White House to celebrate their triumph with the current U.S. President. The Dodgers did go last year and even in 2021 when Joe Biden was the President.
The team will go again this year. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Roberts expressed that he would go no matter who was in the office.
It doesn’t matter who is in the office, I’m going.
Dave Roberts said
However, Roberts has no issue with anyone who is not willing to attend. On Friday, the 54-year-old claimed he was hoping to receive this invitation every year because their goal was to win the championship.
It’s an individual choice, as it should be, and I don’t think anyone is judging anyone for going or not going. So I don’t know that answer. … I hope that we get this invitation every year. Because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House.
Dave Roberts said as per Bill Plunkett
The emotions were a bit high last year regarding this. A few days before the team accepted the invitation, the Trump administration removed the Department of Defense (DOD) page of Jackie Robinson.
The Hall of Famer is credited for breaking the color barrier in the league after he took to the field on April 15, 1947. Before playing baseball, Robinson served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After a major public outcry, the page was restored. Several fans were thus unimpressed with the team’s trip to the White House and meeting with Donald Trump.
Speaking of the Dodgers, they lost 9-3 on Friday against the Athletics. Team superstar Shohei Ohtani was scratched from his start and played only as the DH. With the loss, the reigning MLB champions have a 61-34 record after 95 games.
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