WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump is threatening to block a proposed stadium deal for the Washington Commanders unless the NFL team abandons its current name and reinstates its former one, the Redskins—a name dropped amid national calls for racial justice and cultural sensitivity.
In a post Sunday on his social media platform, Trump said he may oppose plans to build a new stadium in Washington unless the team reverts to its old moniker, saying the name “Commanders” is “ridiculous” and claiming the franchise would be “much more valuable” as the Redskins.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The Commanders and city officials from the District of Columbia announced earlier this year plans to construct a new stadium at the site of the old RFK Stadium, where the team played for decades before moving to Maryland. The deal was made possible after President Joe Biden signed legislation in January transferring control of the federally owned land to the D.C. government.
While Trump’s ability to directly halt the project is uncertain, his remarks reflect a broader political push to reverse name changes that emerged from the racial justice movement. The Redskins name was officially retired in 2020, along with the team’s Indian head logo, amid a nationwide reckoning with systemic racism.
Trump also took aim at Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team, demanding it revert from the Guardians to the Indians. “There is a big clamoring for this,” Trump said, echoing his claim that cultural sensitivity initiatives have gone too far. He even linked the team name to electoral performance, saying former Guardians owner Matt Dolan “might actually win an Election” if the team changed its name back.
The Guardians, who officially adopted the new name in 2021 after phasing out their “Chief Wahoo” logo in 2018, have shown no sign of reverting. Chris Antonetti, the team’s president of baseball operations, told reporters Sunday there are no plans to revisit the change, saying the franchise is focused on building its new brand.
“We understand there are different perspectives… but obviously it’s a decision we made,” Antonetti said before the team’s game against Oakland.
Josh Harris, who acquired the Commanders in 2023 from longtime owner Dan Snyder, has also firmly dismissed suggestions of returning to the Redskins name. Shortly after taking over, Harris ended speculation by stating the name change would remain permanent.
Despite Trump’s pressure, there has been no response from the Commanders regarding his threat. The NFL team has not issued a public comment.
Trump’s latest foray into the debate over team names underscores his ongoing campaign to undo elements of the cultural reckoning that followed the death of George Floyd and protests against racial injustice in 2020. It also plays to his political base, many of whom view the name changes as unnecessary capitulations to political correctness.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in November, has turned the naming controversy into a campaign issue, branding the Cleveland name change as politically motivated and unpopular.
“The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan… has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change,” Trump posted. “MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!”
Dolan, who has not been involved in team operations since 2016, unsuccessfully ran in two U.S. Senate races in Ohio. He currently holds no formal role with the Guardians.
Both the Commanders and Guardians declined to comment on the latest developments.
