"I had nothing against Donald Trump" - Red Sox manager Alex Cora reveals reason for declining White House invite after 2018 World Series victory

In 2019, the Boston Red Sox were invited to the White House after they won the previous year's World Series. As tradition, all members of the ballclub, from staff to the players, look to attend the ceremony. But their manager, Alex Cora, among a few handfuls, declined the invitation.

Alex Cora, who is from Puerto Rico, had declined the invitation citing the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria to the island. His comments were, in a way, taken to be a political stand against President Donald Trump and his claims towards the Puerto Ricans.

After six years, Cora finally cleared the air. Appearing on the "Mayor's Office" podcast with Sean Casey, the Red Sox skipper explained his stance and stated that his explanation of not accepting the invite could have been clearer.

Cora said (42:39 onwards):

"One of the things that, it's not that I regret, but I think I should have been more clear about, was the visit to the White House. I had nothing against the president at that moment, it was Donald Trump, President Trump, but I felt that me celebrating something at that stage, while we were still suffering, was bad.

"I didn’t feel comfortable doing it. And bro, you know that we’re part of the United States, what they do for us is amazing—the funding, all that—but there was still work to do, and I felt very, very awkward,"

Alex Cora's comments on respecting Donald Trump but disagreeing with him

Initially when the organization had accepted the invitation, Alex Cora was willing to be part of the gathering, choosing to represent his countrymen at the White House. Despite when asked by reporters in 2018 about Trump's comments about the death toll in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, Cora did not mince his words.

"It's a little bit, kind of like, frustrating that the topic keeps coming and coming and coming," Cora had said. "What's the point, honestly? And I respect him. He's the president of the United States. But I don't agree with a lot of stuff that he says about us."

Now that President Trump will have his second term in the White House, Cora might have another chance if the Red Sox can become World Series contenders. The team added some recruits this offseason and are reportedly pursuing big free agents like Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso.