The Chicago Cubs visited the White House on Monday, becoming the last team to meet with Barack Obama during his presidency. Coaches, front office personnel and players all made the trip, however, a few of the 2016 World Series champions received criticism for not attending the event. Jon Lester was one of the Cubs who didn’t make the trip to Washington D.C. and on Tuesday he shot down the critics on Twitter.
Don’t jump to conclusions. That’s all Lester wants. Some people thought Lester, along with other players who didn’t show up, didn’t go because of political reasons. Lester explained why he didn’t go to the White House and it had nothing to do with the current President of the United States.
For those of you so quick to jump to conclusions, we had a death in the family and the funeral was yesterday. Absolutely nothing political.
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) January 17, 2017
Lester visited the White House after he helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2013 World Series.
Jake Arrieta also shared why he didn’t go to the White House.
Via ESPN:
Arrieta said he needs to be home — his mother-in-law is recovering from brain surgery, son Cooper is having a tooth pulled that day.
The decision, Arrieta insists, has nothing to do with politics.
John Lackey, who also went with the Red Sox after winning the World Series in 2013, was also absent on Monday at the White House. Travis Wood, Hector Rondon, Tommy La Stella and Jorge Soler, who was traded to the Kansas City Royals, also did not attend.
Finally, I miss Dexter Fowler.
love you buddy
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) January 17, 2017
Fun fact, on Opening Day, the first batter Lester will face is going to be Fowler. The new center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals did go to the White House with his former teammates and it ticked off some Cardinals’ fans after he missed the team’s fan fest a few days earlier.
