The Washington Nationals are set to visit the White House on Monday following their World Series victory on Wednesday evening against the Houston Astros in Texas.
The Nationals, who have played in the nation’s capital since 2005, clinched their first-ever title in a sudden-death game seven of the World Series. The president attended game five of the series, a loss, at National’s Park on Sunday.
While championship teams from many sports in the United States have traditionally visited the White House for decades, some teams have refused to visit with the president who has also declined to invite teams that have been openly critical of him.
The World Cup champion women’s soccer team, led in part by vocal Trump critic Megan Rapinoe, stated that they would refuse to visit the White House should they be invited. Trump has yet to extend an invitation to the team. The Philadelphia Eagles also refused to visit the Trump White House following their 2018 Super Bowl Championship. A statement from the White House indicated that the team disagreed with Trump’s request that they “proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country.” Trump did not issue an invitation to the WNBA Washington Mystics, who had also been outspoken in their criticism of the president.
The ceremony to honor the hometown Washington Nationals will occur at 1:15 on Monday on the White House South Lawn following a parade in the celebrating the team on Saturday.
The 2019 World Series Champion Washington @Nationals will be visiting the White House on Monday! ⚾? pic.twitter.com/4Ri6pwDv7z
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 1, 2019
