Tone deaf Donald Trump slammed for not removing awkward statue for Shohei Ohtani photo

Joshua MbuSat, July 25, 2026 at 12:47 PM UTC

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An Iwo Jima statue can be seen behind Shohei Ohtani and President Trump -Credit:White House

President Donald Trump has been slammed as “tone deaf” for not removing the statue of U.S. Marines raising the American flag following the Battle of Iwo Jima amid Japan baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ visit to the White House.

The Dodgers were welcomed back to the White House for a second consecutive year by President Trump after winning back-to-back World Series. Once again, Ohtani was front and center of the Dodgers’ baseball success, helping the club win its third championship since 2020.

Longstanding American tradition has seen championship-winning teams across all major sports visit the White House, irrespective of who is the sitting President, to celebrate their sporting achievements. However, across his two Presidential terms, Trump has received his fair share of snubs.

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Not from the Dodgers, though, who turned out in full force, including superstar Ohtani. "I'm thrilled to say welcome back to the White House," Trump said. "And maybe I'll see you again next year."

"It's truly a great -- when you talk about a brand -- it's one of the great brands anywhere in the world," Trump said of the Dodgers. The Dodgers had to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in a crucial Game 7 to win back-to-back titles.

Trump also took a shot at the New York Mets. "You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time," Trump said. "And I'm like, maybe we can steal this guy."

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"There are teams like that, where they never go down," Trump added. "Then, you have other teams -- 'We're rebuilding.' They've been rebuilding for years. I don't want to mention teams 'cause I know all the owners. They're all friends of mine."

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph of six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag, and a statue version sits in the White House -Credit:Getty

Then came the photographs in the Oval Office. Trump shared a picture with Ohtani flanking him at the Resolute Desk. “What a great guy, and baseball player!!! President DJT,” Trump said on Truth Social.

However, the President has been slammed as “tone deaf” for not removing a statue commemorating the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was a fierce World War II conflict where U.S. Marines invaded a strategic Japanese volcanic island from February 19 to March 26, 1945.

It resulted in heavy losses and produced an iconic flag-raising photo of the Marines raising the American flag on the island.

U.S. Marines of Fifth Marine Division raise the American flag on the flagpole after the battle was won, Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Dodd, U.S. Marine Corps, March 14, 1945. -Credit:Getty

“Hey Shohei! Be careful not to back up into that Iwo Jima statue behind you where your relatives may have killed some American soldiers or have been killed,” one complained on social media.

“Tone-deaf Donnie didn’t think about removing that when one of the world’s most famous Japanese citizens visited,” they continued. “Notice the statue of Iwo Jima right there in the middle,” another noted.

“Good grief, could he junk up the Oval Office a little more?” another noted on how crowded the Oval Office looked.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Breaking”