Dave Roberts Blasts Media After Dodgers’ 8-2 Loss: ‘We’re Being Played’ Over White House Visit with Trump!

The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off their 2024 World Series victory, are no strangers to the spotlight. However, following an 8-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on April 8, 2025, manager Dave Roberts turned heads—not for the game’s outcome, but for his fiery comments about the media’s coverage of the team’s recent White House visit with President Donald Trump. In a post-game interview with Kirsten Watson and the media, Roberts didn’t hold back, claiming the Dodgers are “being played” by the media over their decision to attend the White House ceremony. This controversial statement has sparked heated debates among fans, analysts, and even players, raising questions about the intersection of sports, politics, and media narratives in 2025. Let’s dive into the details of Roberts’ outburst, the context of the White House visit, and what this means for the Dodgers moving forward.

The Dodgers’ White House Visit: A Tradition or a Controversy?

The Dodgers’ visit to the White House on April 7, 2025, was meant to be a celebratory moment. As is tradition for championship teams across major American sports, the Dodgers were invited by President Trump to honor their 2024 World Series win over the New York Yankees. The ceremony, held in the East Room, saw Trump praising the team, singling out stars like Shohei Ohtani for his historic 50-homer, 50-steal season, and even calling Roberts “one of the greatest managers ever to wear the Dodger blue.” Clayton Kershaw presented Trump with a No. 47 Dodgers jersey, and the event concluded with a tour of the Oval Office. On the surface, it was a standard affair—Trump even predicted the Dodgers would return in 2026 after another championship.

However, the visit was anything but uncontroversial. Trump’s second term has been polarizing, especially in a city like Los Angeles, where he received far fewer votes than Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. The Dodgers’ decision to accept the invitation drew criticism from some fans and columnists, who argued it contradicted the team’s legacy of social progress, particularly tied to Jackie Robinson’s breaking of baseball’s color barrier in 1947. A Los Angeles Times column called the visit “spineless” and a betrayal of the Dodgers’ values, while The Nation accused the team of defiling Robinson’s memory by meeting with Trump, whose administration recently removed a Department of Defense webpage honoring Robinson’s military service.

Adding fuel to the fire, Roberts himself had a complicated history with the idea of visiting a Trump White House. Back in 2019, during Trump’s first term, Roberts told the Los Angeles Times he would decline such an invitation if the Dodgers won the World Series, citing his discomfort with Trump’s leadership. At the time, Roberts had been publicly criticized by Trump on Twitter (now X) for his bullpen decisions during the 2018 World Series, with Trump calling his choices a “big mistake.” Roberts brushed off the critique then, saying, “That’s one man’s opinion,” but his 2019 comments suggested a deeper reluctance to engage with Trump’s administration.

Fast forward to 2025, and Roberts had a change of heart. He confirmed the team’s decision to attend, emphasizing that it was about celebrating the 2024 championship, not politics. “I respect the position. It’s the highest office in our country, certainly in the world, so I’m looking forward to it,” Roberts said before the visit. He also noted that the decision was unanimous within the organization, with 100% participation from players, including Mookie Betts, who had skipped a White House visit with the Boston Red Sox in 2019 but chose to attend this time, citing regret over his past absence.

The 8-2 Loss and Roberts’ Explosive Comments

The White House visit might have faded into the background as the Dodgers continued their 2025 season, but their 8-2 loss to the Phillies on April 8 brought the controversy back into focus. The game itself was a disappointment for the Dodgers, who had started the season with a strong 9-2 record. Pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Blake Treinen struggled, and the team’s offense couldn’t keep up with the Phillies’ firepower. But it was Roberts’ post-game press conference that stole the headlines.

Speaking to Kirsten Watson and the media, Roberts didn’t mince words. “We’re being played,” he said, his frustration palpable. “The media is making this White House visit into something it’s not. We went to celebrate our championship, not to make a political statement. But every time we lose a game, it’s like the narrative shifts to ‘Oh, the Dodgers are distracted because of Trump.’ It’s ridiculous. We’re here to play baseball, not to be pawns in someone else’s game.”

Roberts’ comments suggest he believes the media is using the White House visit as a scapegoat for the team’s on-field struggles, amplifying the controversy to create a narrative of distraction. It’s a bold claim, and one that has divided opinions. Some fans on X agree with Roberts, arguing that the media has overblown the visit’s significance. “The Dodgers went to the White House in 2021 under Biden, and no one cared. Why is this different?” one user posted. Others, however, see Roberts’ outburst as a deflection from the team’s poor performance. “Maybe if Roberts focused on managing the bullpen instead of the media, we wouldn’t have lost 8-2,” another fan quipped.

The Bigger Picture: Sports, Politics, and Media in 2025

Roberts’ comments tap into a larger conversation about the role of politics in sports, especially in an era where athletes and teams are increasingly expected to take stands on social and political issues. The Dodgers, with their storied history of breaking barriers through Jackie Robinson, are often held to a higher standard. Critics argue that by visiting Trump, the team is implicitly endorsing his administration’s policies, which have been divisive on issues like immigration and racial equity. The removal of the Jackie Robinson webpage by Trump’s Department of Defense—later restored after public outcry—only heightened these concerns.

On the other hand, Roberts and the Dodgers have consistently framed the visit as apolitical. “This is not a political thing,” Roberts said before the visit. “I’m excited to recognize the 2024 World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.” Players like Kershaw echoed this sentiment, with the veteran pitcher calling the visit “an incredible honor” regardless of who’s in office. Yet, as a Los Angeles Times column pointed out, “contributing to the normalization of Trump’s rhetoric and behavior is political,” whether the Dodgers intend it to be or not.

The media’s role in this saga is also worth examining. Roberts’ accusation that the media is “playing” the Dodgers raises questions about journalistic responsibility. Are outlets amplifying the White House controversy to drive clicks and engagement, as Roberts suggests? Or are they simply holding the Dodgers accountable to their own legacy? The truth likely lies somewhere in between, but in an age of clickbait headlines and 24/7 news cycles, Roberts’ frustration is understandable, even if his team’s loss isn’t directly tied to the visit.

What’s Next for the Dodgers?

As the Dodgers move forward in the 2025 season, they’ll need to put this controversy behind them. With a talented roster featuring Ohtani, Betts, and Freddie Freeman (who recently returned from the injured list), the team is still a favorite to repeat as champions. Roberts, for his part, has proven his ability to lead under pressure, guiding the Dodgers to two World Series titles in the last four years. But his latest comments have added a new layer of scrutiny to his tenure.

For now, the focus should be on the field. The Dodgers have a chance to bounce back in their next game against the Phillies, and a strong performance could quiet the noise around the White House visit. However, if losses pile up, the media narrative Roberts so vehemently criticized may only grow louder. One thing is clear: in 2025, the line between sports and politics is blurrier than ever, and the Dodgers are right in the middle of it.