Former President Donald Trump has intensified his push for the Washington Commanders to revert to their previous name, the “Redskins.” He has threatened to impose restrictions on the NFL team’s stadium deal in Washington, D.C., if the name change does not occur. On October 8, 2023, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, “I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington.”
The Commanders, who relocated to Landover, Maryland, in 1997, have been the subject of renewed discussions about a potential return to D.C. In April, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a deal to bring the team back to the site of the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Despite Trump’s earlier support for the deal, it is currently stalled before the D.C. Council. Bowser has urged the council to expedite the process, noting that “the Commanders are anxious” about the outcome.
Trump’s involvement in the stadium deal adds another layer to the ongoing negotiations. Earlier this month, he expressed his willingness to assist in moving the deal forward if the D.C. Council does not act, emphasizing the site’s potential value for the NFL. In a statement, he remarked, “It’s a great piece of property, so we’ll see. But if I can help them out, I would. … The federal government ultimately controls it.”
In late 2024, Congress passed legislation to transfer ownership of the RFK site from the federal government to the D.C. government, further complicating the landscape for negotiations. Trump commended the Commanders’ owner, stating, “The owner is very, very successful and a very good man.”
Trump’s comments have garnered attention not only for their implications for the Commanders but also for his remarks about other sports teams. He has called for the Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former name, the “Indians,” suggesting that “Indian people” desire the change. He commented, “Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them.”
The name changes for both teams were part of a broader cultural shift, as companies reevaluated the use of names and symbols considered offensive to Native American communities. Trump’s recent statements, however, assert that “times are different now.” He urged team owners to take action, declaring, “OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”
Trump’s remarks come after a prior declaration that the Commanders’ name change was controversial. He noted, “It doesn’t have the same ring to me. But, you know, winning can make everything sound good.” Additionally, he claimed that if the Guardians reverted to their former name, it could positively affect elections for the team’s ownership.
The Washington football team officially dropped the “Redskins” name in 2020, following decades of criticism from various Native American groups who labeled the term as an ethnic slur. The Cleveland baseball team announced its name change in 2021 after similar criticisms.
As the Commanders and Guardians navigate their identities amidst changing social landscapes, Trump’s statements reflect ongoing tensions surrounding team names and their implications for fans and communities. Both organizations have yet to respond to Trump’s latest comments.
