President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign urging the Washington Commanders to revert their name to the “Redskins,” threatening potential restrictions on the NFL team’s stadium deal if they do not comply. Trump’s comments, made on October 22, 2023, were shared 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,’ 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 from Washington to Landover, Maryland, in 1997, have recently been in discussions to return to the district. In April 2023, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the team announced a plan for a new stadium at the site of the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding the proposal, progress has stalled at the DC Council. Mayor Bowser has called on council members to expedite the deal, indicating that “the Commanders are anxious” about the outcome.
Trump’s involvement in the stadium negotiations was highlighted when he expressed willingness to assist the Commanders if the DC Council fails to approve the deal. “It’s a great piece of property, so we’ll see. But if I can help them out, I would,” he remarked, noting that “the federal government ultimately controls it.” In late 2024, Congress passed legislation to transfer control of the RFK site from the federal government to the district government.
In his statements, Trump also criticized the current name of the team, referring to them as the “Washington ‘Whatever’s’” and demanding an immediate return to the name “Washington Redskins Football Team.” This sentiment echoes his earlier remarks where he acknowledged the controversial nature of the name change, stating, “It doesn’t have the same ring to me.”
Trump’s focus on team names extends beyond the Commanders. He has also pressured the Cleveland Guardians to revert to the “Indians,” claiming this change aligns with the desires of “Indian people.” His assertions come amidst a broader cultural reevaluation of names perceived as offensive, yet he argued that “times are different now,” calling for a return to the previous monikers.
The names “Redskins” and “Indians” have been contentious for years. The Washington football team officially dropped the term “Redskins” in 2020 after significant backlash from Native American advocacy groups, which criticized the name as a racial slur. Subsequently, in 2022, the team adopted the name “Commanders.” Similarly, the Cleveland baseball team transitioned to the Guardians in 2021 following similar criticisms regarding their former name.
Trump’s recent remarks, including his view that the name change has negatively impacted the Guardians’ ownership, suggest a calculated push to rally support for reverting to these names. He claimed, “Matt Dolan… has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn’t understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election.”
As this debate unfolds, the future of the Commanders’ potential return to Washington and the broader implications of team names remain uncertain. Trump’s comments have reignited discussions around identity, branding, and cultural sensitivity in professional sports, reflecting ongoing tensions in the conversation about heritage and respect for diverse communities.