Former President Donald Trump has recently threatened to derail the deal for the Washington Commanders' proposed stadium unless the team changes its name back to the "Redskins." The comment, posted on his Truth Social account, reignited heated conversations surrounding sports team names and logos associated with Native American culture.
Trump stated a "strong demand" exists for the Washington NFL team, currently known as the Commanders, to reclaim their original name. He argued that doing so would enhance the team’s market value and make the stadium proposal more enticing.
The Washington Commanders transitioned from their previous name in July 2020, a decision made after widespread protests viewing the name "Redskins" as derogatory and offensive to Native Americans. Following a season as the Washington Football Team, the franchise rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.
In April, plans were approved for a £3 billion stadium, set to seat 65,000 fans, to be erected where RFK Stadium once stood, their historic home from 1961 to 1997. The District of Columbia's council members were recently urged by a leading Republican figure to expedite the approval process for the new stadium.
Trump's message included conditions for the stadium deal, stating, “If they don’t revert to the original Redskins name, I won’t support the construction of their stadium in Washington." He believes that the franchise would gain substantial value from the name change and claims it would lead to a better deal for all involved.
Earlier this year, Trump made headlines as he attended the Super Bowl, a first for a sitting president, and has similarly urged the Cleveland Guardians baseball team to reconsider their name change, prompted by concerns from Native American communities.
The Guardians' president, Chris Antonetti, downplayed Trump’s comments, emphasizing their commitment to the brand they've developed since the name change was implemented.
In response to the ongoing debate surrounding team names reflecting Native American heritage, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has publicly condemned these discussions, asserting that they reflect systemic racism and cultural appropriation. The NCAI asserts that such names harm the dignity and identity of Indigenous peoples.
The BBC Sports division has reached out to the Washington Commanders for their stance on Trump's remarks and upcoming stadium plans.
