Cleveland – President Donald Trump has recently expressed his desire for the Washington NFL team to revert to its former name, the Redskins. He argues that this name change could significantly increase the team’s value. Trump mentioned that he might delay a new stadium deal for the team unless they change their name back, calling the current name, the Commanders, “ridiculous.”
In a similar vein, Trump has also called for Cleveland’s baseball team to return to its previous name, the Indians, citing strong public support for this change. Both the Commanders and the Guardians have maintained their current names since the 2022 season and have stated they don’t plan on reverting.
Trump’s comments are part of a broader stance against recent cultural shifts regarding team names and logos, which many argue stem from the national conversation about race and cultural sensitivity initiated in recent years. The Washington team changed its name in 2020 following discussions about systemic racism.
Currently, there is a deal in place for a new stadium to be built at the site of the old RFK Stadium, which was the Commanders’ home for over thirty years. However, it’s unclear whether Trump’s intervention could affect this deal, as the land transfer was authorized by Congress earlier this year.
Josh Harris, who acquired the Commanders earlier this year, has already stated that the team will not return to the Redskins name, a sentiment echoed by the team president and the management of the Cleveland Guardians. They have emphasized their commitment to the names they have adopted and are focused on building their respective brands.
Trump also commented on the political implications of the name change for the Cleveland team’s owner, Matt Dolan, suggesting that restoring the name Indians could enhance his chances in future elections. Dolan, who previously run for the U.S. Senate, has no current role in the Guardians’ operations.
Both teams paint a broader picture of how sports franchise names are influenced by cultural discussions, public sentiment, and political considerations, highlighting the complexities in making such significant changes.
