As the Washington Commanders inch closer to striking a deal to build a new stadium at the historic RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C., an old controversy has resurfaced — and this time, it's been reignited by none other than President Donald Trump .
Donald Trump labels Redskins name as 'superior,' pushes for Washington's old identity to return
In a recent interaction with the media, Trump was asked about the stadium deal and whether he might require the team to revert to its former name — the Redskins — given that the land involved is federally owned. While he didn’t directly answer the question about making the name change a condition for the deal, Trump made his stance abundantly clear.
“Washington, the Redskins perhaps that’s a little different but I can tell you I spoke to people of Indian heritage and they love that name and they love that team. And I think it’s a much superior name to what they have right now. And it had heritage behind it, it had something special,” Trump stated.
The former president’s remarks come at a pivotal moment for the franchise. The Commanders are in the midst of planning a return to their roots, geographically speaking, as they eye the RFK site — where the team once thrived — for a potential new home. But Trump’s comments added an entirely new layer to that conversation, suggesting a possible cultural and political undertone to the stadium talks.
This isn’t the first time Trump has weighed in on the team’s identity. He has long expressed opposition to the broader trend of sports franchises rebranding to eliminate references to Native American culture. During the conversation, he also brought up other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Guardians — the latter formerly known as the Indians — pointing out what he perceives as a misguided effort to “erase” cultural heritage.
“I think it’s degrading to the Indian population, and it’s a great population,” Trump said. “And they like when they’re called by various names. Now, Washington, the Redskins, perhaps that’s a little different… but I can tell you I spoke to people of Indian heritage and they love that name and they love that team.”
“I see nothing wrong with it. Name had heritage behind it”
“All these Indian surnames. I don't know why these names are being taken off. It's degrading”
The franchise retired the Redskins name in July 2020, amid a national reckoning over racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd. After years of public pressure and mounting opposition from corporate sponsors like Nike and FedEx, the team finally announced that the name would be dropped. They spent two seasons as the “Washington Football Team” before officially adopting the “Commanders” identity in February 2022.
Still, not all fans have embraced the change. A Washington Post poll published in June revealed that 58% of Commanders fans are dissatisfied with the current name — a sentiment that may explain why Trump’s comments, however controversial, resonate with a segment of the fanbase.
Though Trump stopped short of saying he would push for a name reversal as part of the stadium approval process, his commentary clearly signals an openness — even an eagerness — to reintroduce a debate many believed was settled.
As the Commanders push forward with their stadium ambitions, they may now find themselves caught in a renewed identity crossroads — one where politics, history, and the voice of a divided fanbase could shape the future of both the team and its name.
Also Read: NFL Draft in Green Bay gets high-level protection with FBI and local law enforcement teaming up
Donald Trump labels Redskins name as 'superior,' pushes for Washington's old identity to return
In a recent interaction with the media, Trump was asked about the stadium deal and whether he might require the team to revert to its former name — the Redskins — given that the land involved is federally owned. While he didn’t directly answer the question about making the name change a condition for the deal, Trump made his stance abundantly clear.
“Washington, the Redskins perhaps that’s a little different but I can tell you I spoke to people of Indian heritage and they love that name and they love that team. And I think it’s a much superior name to what they have right now. And it had heritage behind it, it had something special,” Trump stated.
The former president’s remarks come at a pivotal moment for the franchise. The Commanders are in the midst of planning a return to their roots, geographically speaking, as they eye the RFK site — where the team once thrived — for a potential new home. But Trump’s comments added an entirely new layer to that conversation, suggesting a possible cultural and political undertone to the stadium talks.
This isn’t the first time Trump has weighed in on the team’s identity. He has long expressed opposition to the broader trend of sports franchises rebranding to eliminate references to Native American culture. During the conversation, he also brought up other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Guardians — the latter formerly known as the Indians — pointing out what he perceives as a misguided effort to “erase” cultural heritage.
“I think it’s degrading to the Indian population, and it’s a great population,” Trump said. “And they like when they’re called by various names. Now, Washington, the Redskins, perhaps that’s a little different… but I can tell you I spoke to people of Indian heritage and they love that name and they love that team.”
“I see nothing wrong with it. Name had heritage behind it”
“All these Indian surnames. I don't know why these names are being taken off. It's degrading”
The franchise retired the Redskins name in July 2020, amid a national reckoning over racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd. After years of public pressure and mounting opposition from corporate sponsors like Nike and FedEx, the team finally announced that the name would be dropped. They spent two seasons as the “Washington Football Team” before officially adopting the “Commanders” identity in February 2022.
Still, not all fans have embraced the change. A Washington Post poll published in June revealed that 58% of Commanders fans are dissatisfied with the current name — a sentiment that may explain why Trump’s comments, however controversial, resonate with a segment of the fanbase.
Though Trump stopped short of saying he would push for a name reversal as part of the stadium approval process, his commentary clearly signals an openness — even an eagerness — to reintroduce a debate many believed was settled.
As the Commanders push forward with their stadium ambitions, they may now find themselves caught in a renewed identity crossroads — one where politics, history, and the voice of a divided fanbase could shape the future of both the team and its name.
Also Read: NFL Draft in Green Bay gets high-level protection with FBI and local law enforcement teaming up
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