Former President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign for the Washington Commanders to revert to their former name, “Redskins.” He recently suggested that he might impose conditions on a stadium deal with the team, implying he would not support the construction of a new venue unless the name change takes place. Trump made this declaration on Truth Social, asserting that returning to the original name would increase the team’s value and enhance the stadium deal’s appeal.
The Commanders relocated from Washington to Landover, Maryland in 1997 but announced plans to return to the district with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier this year, targeting the site of the old Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. Despite Trump’s enthusiasm for the proposal, it remains stalled in the DC Council, prompting Bowser to call for action, stating that the team is eager for progress.
Trump expressed a willingness to intervene if necessary, reinforcing that the federal government ultimately controls the land. In late 2024, Congress passed legislation to transfer the RFK site ownership from federal to district control, a critical step for the team’s ambitions. Trump praised the team’s owner, calling him “successful” and suggesting that zoning the area for NFL use would be advantageous.
Previously, Trump referred to the team as the “Washington ‘Whatever’s'” while demanding an immediate name change back to the Redskins. His comments on this issue exhibit a deeper ongoing critique he has of sports team names, including urging the Cleveland Guardians to revert to the “Indians,” asserting that many Native Americans support this shift.
The Commanders had dropped the “Redskins” name in 2020 after widespread backlash, with critics labelling it an ethnic slur. The name change to “Commanders” came about two years later, as part of a broader movement to address cultural sensitivities and the use of racially charged symbols in sports.
Trump’s recent remarks go beyond mere opinion, suggesting that he believes the cultural climate has shifted since these decisions were made. He claimed that significant numbers of Native Americans want their traditional names restored, declaring that their “heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away.” He concluded with a rallying cry for team owners to act decisively, echoing his “Make America Great Again” slogan by rephrasing it to “Make Indians Great Again (MIGA).”
CNN has sought feedback from both the Commanders and the Guardians regarding Trump’s comments.