Trump highlights Red Sox success following White House visit several players skipped

President Trump on Monday highlighted the success of the Boston Red Sox in the wake of the team’s visit to the White House, which several players of color skipped.

Trump noted that the Red Sox have won three games in a row since most team members visited last Thursday and suggested making the celebratory White House trip has led to good fortune for others.

“Has anyone noticed that all the Boston @RedSox have done is WIN since coming to the White House! Others also have done very well,” Trump tweeted.{mosads}

“The White House visit is becoming the opposite of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated! By the way, the Boston players were GREAT guys!” he added, referencing the idea that teams appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated experience bad luck.

Has anyone noticed that all the Boston @RedSox have done is WIN since coming to the White House! Others also have done very well. The White House visit is becoming the opposite of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated! By the way, the Boston players were GREAT guys!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019

Trump’s defense of the ceremonial White House visit for championship teams comes as it has become a fraught subject during his presidency. A number of teams and individual athletes have rejected invitations from the president, often citing his rhetoric and policies on race and immigration.

The president welcomed the Red Sox to the White House last Thursday to honor the team for its 2018 World Series victory. But manager Alex Cora and a handful of other players were absent.

Cora, a native of Puerto Rico, said he did not feel comfortable visiting given the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017.

Reigning American League MVP Mookie Betts, pitcher David Price, third baseman Rafael Devers and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. were among the players who did not make the trip. All of those who did not attend were people of color.