Cliff Notes
- Donald Trump has warned he will obstruct the Washington Commanders’ stadium deal unless the team reverts to its former name, the “Redskins”.
- The Commanders had previously retired the name in 2020 following criticisms of its derogatory connotations towards Native Americans.
- Trump’s influence over the stadium deal remains uncertain, given that local governance exists in Washington DC, despite federal oversight.
Trump threatens to block Washington Commanders stadium deal unless they change name back to ‘Redskins’
Donald Trump has threatened to block a stadium deal for the Washington Commanders unless they change their name back to the “Redskins”.
After years of playing in Maryland, the Commanders and the District of Columbia government agreed a deal earlier this year to build the American football team a new stadium at the site of the old RFK Stadium in Washington – where they played for more than three decades.
However, the US president has now said he “won’t make a deal for” the NFL team to move to a new ground unless they return to their former name.
He posted on Truth Social on Sunday: “The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team.”
Mr Trump also called for the Cleveland Guardians to revert their name to the “Cleveland Indians”, and said: “Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen.”
He added later that he “may put a restriction on” the Commanders if they don’t revert to the old the name, adding: “I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington.
“The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be more exciting for everyone.”
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and racial justice protests in 2020, the Commanders announced that they were “retiring” their name and Native American head logo after decades of criticism.
