President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign for the Washington Commanders to revert to their former name, the “Redskins,” threatening to impose restrictions on the NFL team’s stadium deal if they do not comply. Trump made these statements on October 1, 2023, via his social media platform, Truth Social, asserting that failing to change the name would impact the potential stadium deal significantly.
“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,” Trump wrote. He emphasized that the team would be “much more valuable” with the original name, adding that the deal would be “more exciting for everyone.”
The Commanders left Washington for Landover, Maryland, in 1997. However, in April, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team announced plans to return to the district, aiming to build a stadium at the site of the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. While Trump has previously supported this deal, it is currently stalled before the D.C. Council. Mayor Bowser recently urged the council to “make moves” on the proposal, indicating that the Commanders are “anxious” about the outcome.
Trump has expressed a willingness to assist if the D.C. Council fails to approve the deal. He described the stadium site as a “great piece of property” and noted that “the federal government ultimately controls it.” In late 2024, Congress passed a bill transferring ownership of the RFK site from the federal government to the district.
In his remarks, Trump referred to the team as the “Washington ‘Whatever’s’” and insisted that the owners should “IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team.” These comments mark a departure from earlier statements he made this month, where he acknowledged that calling for the name change was “controversial.” He remarked, “It doesn’t have the same ring to me. But, you know, winning can make everything sound good.”
Trump’s focus on sports team names extends beyond the Commanders. He has also pressured the Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former name, the “Indians.” In a recent post, he claimed that “Indian people” desire this change, asserting that their heritage is being “systematically taken away from them.”
The names of both teams were changed amid significant criticism from Native American groups who labeled the terms as derogatory. The Commanders discontinued the use of the Redskins name in 2020 after years of protest, while the Guardians adopted their name in 2021 following similar backlash.
Trump contends that “times are different now” and maintains that restoring the original names would resonate with many fans. He further criticized the Guardians’ owner, Matt Dolan, suggesting that reverting to the “Indians” could help Dolan win future elections. “Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!” he declared, echoing his famous campaign slogan.
The Washington Commanders and the D.C. mayor’s office have not publicly commented on Trump’s recent statements. As discussions surrounding the stadium deal and team names continue, the implications of Trump’s threats may influence the future of both franchises and their communities.
