Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, but some fans believe the baseball star mocked the Commander-in-Chief afterwards.
Ohtani, who helped the Dodgers win the World Series last fall over the Yankees, was seen in the Oval Office with President Trump, and also shook hands with him in the East Room as the entire Dodgers team was recognized for their championship.
‘He shattered all of those records last year,’ Trump beamed about the Japanese star.
But while Ohtani politely interacted with Trump during the visit, he did not include the President in his Instagram post afterwards.
In a carousel post shared with his more than nine million followers, Ohtani shared a total of four photographs featuring his teammates and others from the Dodgers organization – but none of the Commander-in-Chief.
Many fans picked up on that fact and flooded Ohtani’s comments to point out the apparent snub.
Shohei Ohtani shook hands with President Donald Trump in the East Room on Monday
The pair also met in the Oval Office and posed together while Trump sat at his desk
‘Trump Didn’t Make It,’ one wrote with laughing-crying emojis.
‘no Trump in any flicks I see you Ohtani,’ a second added.
A third added, ‘Don’t post no pics with Trump. W!.’
A fourth fan called Ohtani a ‘legend’ for leaving out a photo of Trump.
And another supporter said: ‘that’s why he’s the goat.’
Ohtani did not caption the post.
As the 30-year-old posed next to Trump in the Oval Office earlier in the day, the Commander-in-Chief told him: ‘It’s a great honor, you’re an amazing athlete and person.’
He then proceeded to hand the baseball sensation what appeared to be two medallions out of a box on the desk.
Trump later shook Ohtani’s hand in the East Room, saying during his speech that the three-time MVP looked like a ‘movie star.’
Ohtani interacted with Trump multiple times on Monday but didn’t post any pictures with him
The president also presented Dodgers star Ohtani with a special gift in the Oval Office
‘He shattered all of those records last year,’ Trump said of the two-way sensation. ‘Think of it, all of them, and he did something even more because he became the first ever member of the 50-50 club. So 40-40 is tough, hitting 54 home runs and 59 steals and accomplished an accomplishment unparalleled in 149 years of Major League Baseball. Think of that. That’s just incredible.’
‘Even more incredibly, Shohei clinched that achievement in what some have called the greatest game ever. Was it that good of a game? That was pretty good. Is he good?,’ he continued, turning to manager Dave Roberts, who answered: ‘He’s only getting better.’
‘That’s scary for a lot of people, huh?,’ the president replied.
Notably, Trump also praised Ohtani’s teammate, Mookie Betts – who previously rejected a trip to the White House in 2019 after the Red Sox won the title the year before.
‘Mookie Betts, aww is he good,’ Trump said Monday before shaking the player’s hand and then returning to the podium.
‘Mookie,’ Trump continued. ‘That guy can play, can’t he? I mean, unbelievable.
Betts has never specified why he skipped Boston’s White House visit in January of 2019.
The Dodgers’ title defense is off to a strong start, as the team is 9-3 thus far.
Ohtani and Betts have also blasted three home runs apiece.
