Former President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to obstruct a deal involving the construction of a new stadium for the Washington Commanders unless the team changes its name back to "Redskins." In a recent post on Truth Social, he highlighted what he described as a significant public desire for the team to revert to their traditional name, which was abandoned in 2020 due to its offensive connotations toward Native Americans.
The NFL franchise initially transitioned to the Washington Football Team before adopting the name "Commanders" in 2022. The proposed stadium project would be situated on the historic grounds of the former RFK Stadium, where the team played for decades until their relocation. The deal, valued at approximately £3 billion, is currently awaiting expedited approval from the DC Council, prompted by advocacy from Republican leaders.
Trump emphasized that he might impose conditions on the stadium plan, stating, "If they don’t change the name back to the original Redskins and discard the absurd title Washington Commanders, I won’t support their stadium deal.” He argued that returning to the former name could substantially enhance the team's market value and excitement surrounding the project.
This past February, Trump made headlines by becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, watching the Eagles triumph against the Chiefs. He has also called for Major League Baseball's Cleveland Guardians to revert to their previous moniker, emphasizing a perceived demand from the Native American community, which Guardians president Chris Antonetti dismissed as not being a priority for the team.
This stance has raised eyebrows as the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) recently condemned public endorsements supporting unsanctioned Native-themed mascots, asserting that such names propagate racism and harmful stereotypes against Indigenous peoples. The NCAI's firm position underscores a growing movement advocating for respect and recognition of Native cultures.
As the situation develops, BBC Sport has reached out to the Washington Commanders for their perspective on Trump's threats and future stadium plans.
