David Ortiz Would Reject Donald Trump White House Visit If He Was with Red Sox

Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz celebrated multiple World Series championships with visits to the White House, but he would not make the trip under this administration if he was still playing.

Ortiz told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford on Monday that he would have declined an invitation from President Donald Trump if he had been a part of last year's championship team:

"Put it this way, in sports, it's more likely a big percentage of black people and Spanish people are decedents from immigrants. So once you see what is going in this country based on being an immigrant or being black it's something that goes beyond going into the White House and shaking hands with the President just because. That's the situation that everyone is facing right now. I'm not saying everything Donald Trump is doing is bad but I guess he started off on the wrong foot.

"This is critical. What is going on right now is critical. Listen, when I first came into this country the one thing I always have been proud of is learning how to stay together. That's one thing that I'm proud of coming into this country. That's not the situation right now." 

This comes after Boston manager Alex Cora told Spanish paper El Nuevo Dia that he would not be making the trip to the White House with the team Thursday due to President Trump's handling of a 2017 hurricane crisis in Puerto Rico, where Cora was born.

Ortiz made it clear to Bradford that he supports the skipper's decision.

"Of course, bro," Ortiz said. "Alex is in a tough spot right now, going there and acting like nothing is happening. It's like you are going to shake hands with the enemy. Think about it, all the stuff that has been going on since he took office. People are angry. People are mad. He has divided people, that's how it feels like."

Big Papi was a member of three championship squads (2004, 2007 and 2013) during his time with the Red Sox. As a result, he made two trips to the White House under the George W. Bush administration and also one trip to then-President Barack Obama. 

However, the ceremonial visits to the White House have become a polarizing subject under the Trump administration.

Boston pitcher and Mexico native Hector Velazquez previously told MassLive.com's Christopher Smith he would not attend due to President Trump's comments about Mexico. Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and David Price are among those to decline thus far as well, according to the New York Times' Victor Mather.

The Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia Eagles are among the title-winning teams that have declined invites as a whole from President Trump.