Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora recently shed light on his decision to forgo a White House visit with the 2018 World Series championship team. In a candid conversation on "The Mayor's Office" podcast, Cora clarified that his choice wasn't politically motivated but stemmed from his deep connection to Puerto Rico and its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Maria.

Cora, a native of Puerto Rico, expressed discomfort with the idea of celebrating at the White House while his homeland was still grappling with the aftermath of the devastating hurricane. He felt that a celebratory visit would be insensitive to the struggles faced by Puerto Ricans. While acknowledging the U.S. government's support and funding, he emphasized that significant recovery work remained. Cora regretted any misinterpretations of his decision as political, reiterating that his priorities were sports and family.

At the time of the scheduled visit in May 2019, Cora publicly stated his preference to remain consistent with his feelings about the situation in Puerto Rico. Then-President Trump had previously characterized the federal response to Hurricane Maria as an "incredible success." However, an independent investigation later revised the official death toll from 64 to 2,975, highlighting the severity of the disaster and fueling criticism of the administration's handling of the crisis.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in September 2017, caused widespread devastation. The significantly increased death toll attributed to Hurricane Maria underscores the lasting impact of the storm and the challenges faced by the island in its recovery efforts.