President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign for the Washington Commanders to revert to their former name, the “Redskins.” He threatens to impose restrictions on a potential stadium deal if the NFL team does not comply. Trump’s comments came on October 15, 2023, via his social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated, “I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins’… I won’t make a deal for them to build a stadium in Washington.”
The Commanders, who left Washington for Landover, Maryland, in 1997, have recently negotiated a deal to return to the district at the site of the old Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team announced this deal in April 2023, but it is currently stalled before the DC Council. Bowser has urged the council to take action, emphasizing that “the Commanders are anxious” about the future of the agreement.
Trump had initially expressed support for the deal but shifted his focus to the team’s name. Speaking to reporters last week, 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 a bill to transfer ownership of the RFK site from federal to district control.
On the same day he made the name change ultimatum, Trump addressed the team using a derogatory reference, calling them the “Washington ‘Whatever’s’,” and insisted the owners should “IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team.” Earlier this month, he had commented that the name change was controversial but maintained that the original name held greater appeal.
Trump’s remarks extend beyond the Commanders. He also called on the Cleveland Guardians to revert to their previous name, the “Indians.” He claims that “Indian people” support this change and that their heritage is being undermined. “Times are different now than they were three or four years ago,” he stated, urging team owners to reconsider their branding decisions.
The Commanders dropped the “Redskins” name in 2020 following extensive criticism from Native American advocacy groups, who labeled it an ethnic slur. The team revealed its new name, the “Commanders,” in 2022. Similarly, the Cleveland baseball team transitioned from the “Indians” name in 2021 amidst similar backlash.
Trump’s focus on these name changes reflects a broader cultural discussion around sports branding and identity. His comments suggest a desire to influence these decisions through public sentiment and political pressure, despite the challenges of navigating established corporate and community standards around naming practices.
As the debate continues, both the Commanders and the Guardians face scrutiny over their identities and how they resonate with their respective fan bases. The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, particularly as the political landscape evolves and public opinion shifts.
