Nationals to visit President Trump at White House

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The Washington Nationals, just days after winning their first World Series in franchise history, are off to the White House.

The Nationals have accepted an invitation to visit President Donald Trump at the White House Monday, an unusually quick turnaround for a team coming off a championship. The ceremony will take place at 1:15 p.m. on the South Lawn, a White House official confirmed to David Nakamura of The Washington Post.
The Nationals will have their World Series parade in Washington on Saturday.
President Trump, who attended Game 5 of the World Series at Nats Park, has hosted the past three World Series champions. In March, he hosted the players from the Washington Capitals after they won the Stanley Cup. Some members of the Caps Cup-winning squad, including Braden Holtby, Devante Smith-Pelly, and Brett Connolly, declined to attend citing political disagreement with the Republican president.

"My family and myself, we believe in a world where humans are treated with respect regardless of your stature, what you're born into. So, I think that's just where it's at in terms of this decision," Holtby said in March. "You're asked to choose what side you're on, and I think it's pretty clear what side I'm on."

"I wouldn't say it was hard. In the end, I never really came up with a situation where I'd feel comfortable going," Holtby added. 

“The things that (Trump) spews are straight-up racist and sexist," Smith-Pelly said. "Some of the things he’s said are pretty gross. I’m not too into politics, so I don’t know all his other views, but his rhetoric I definitely don’t agree with."

The Capitals who did attend, including captain Alex Ovechkin and owner Ted Leonsis, posed for pictures with President Trump and the Stanley Cup in the Oval Office.
Women's teams, including the Washington Mystics who won the WNBA title earlier this year, have not typically been invited to the White House during the Trump Administration.

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

Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on a great season and an incredible World Series. Game 7 was amazing! @Nationals

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2019

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