U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted he might object to proposals for a new stadium in Washington, D.C., unless the NFL’s Washington Commanders go back to their previous name, the Redskins. After years of condemnation for its offensive depiction of Native Americans, the team retired the moniker in 2020.
Trump said he would think about banning any stadium development contract if the team did not bring back the first name in a post shared on his Truth Social platform. Describing “Commanders” as a “ridiculous moniker,” he advised the comeback of “Redskins” was required to continue negotiations on infrastructure.
Although the squad presently plays in Landover, Maryland, it had agreed to go back to Washington with a new stadium scheduled by 2030. Still, Trump, who has no direct authority over the matter, has previously voiced interest in exercising greater federal power over D.C.
The plan has brought back the larger discussion on how Indigenous names should be used in athletics. While some fans favor reviving the conventional name, leading Native American advocacy groups—including the National Congress of American Indians—have continually criticized it as racially insensitive and damaging. Only a few groups, like the Native American Guardian’s Association, have supported what they call “respectful representation” in athletic marketing.
The team’s representatives have not addressed the comments.
