Kareem Abdul-Jabbar brought plenty of legendary status—and some pointed criticism—to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson Day ceremony, using his platform to call out President Donald Trump’s rollback of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies.

On the 78th anniversary of Jackie Robinson smashing baseball’s color barrier, Abdul-Jabbar—an avowed Brooklyn Dodgers fan since his New York childhood—took a moment between Dodgers vs. Giants tales and fan skirmishes to address Trump’s executive order eliminating DEI programs across the federal government.

"I think it’s just a ruse to discriminate," Abdul-Jabbar declared, according to The New York Times. He referenced not only DEI cuts but also attempts to remove Harriet Tubman from the cultural spotlight, saying, "But that didn’t work. There was just uproar about that. But you have to take that into consideration when we think about what’s going on today."

Trump’s executive order last month axed DEI offices, jobs, and programs throughout the government, also scrapping equity-related grants and contracts. The White House doubled down in a fact sheet, insisting the move was about “restoring the values of individual dignity, hard work, and excellence,” with all government hiring to be based on merit alone.

But the policy shift had ripple effects. Not only were government websites cleansed of DEI content—including a Department of Defense page honoring Robinson’s WWII service—but even Harriet Tubman’s National Park Service page and Robinson’s own DOD tribute vanished, only to be hastily restored after public outcry. Apparently, when you give a bureaucracy a week to scrub thousands of pages, things get a little messy.

Sean Parnell, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, admitted the timeline was aggressive and, as a result, some important content was mistakenly flagged. "Without question, this task was an arduous but incredibly important undertaking," he said, emphasizing the balance between compliance and military readiness.

The DEI retreat didn’t stop with the federal government. Major League Baseball also quietly removed diversity references from its career pages, a move noted by the Times and not lost on Abdul-Jabbar, who argued that the struggles Robinson faced remain relevant today. "Jackie had an idea of what we had to confront: segregation. And, in many ways, we’re still confronting it," he said. "But it’s worth it. And it certainly makes people respect us as a country when they see that there is some tension there, and good people are trying to do the right thing."

The Dodgers themselves found their actions under scrutiny after visiting the White House to celebrate their 2024 World Series win. Manager Dave Roberts defended the trip, saying, "I don’t personally view it as talking out of both sides of our mouth... But I do think that supporting our country, staying unified, aligned, is what I believe in personally." He added that the team’s diversity of backgrounds and beliefs was a strength, not a liability.

Roberts didn’t mince words about the broader context: "This country needs a wake-up call. This is not a one-day situation. It’s Jackie Robinson’s day for breaking the color barrier, but this is like an everyday sort of mindset, appreciation."

Meanwhile, the Yankees signaled their ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, with senior vice president Brian Smith emphasizing that their dedication to such initiatives is unwavering, regardless of national policy shifts.

So, on a day meant to honor a man who changed baseball and America, the debate about equality—on and off the field—shows no sign of retreat.

Jackie Robinson News

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Slams Trump’s DEI Rollback at Jackie Robinson Day: 'A Ruse to Discriminate'