‘Totally blown up’: Trump pushes changing name of Washington Commanders back to Redskins
President Donald Trump on Sunday pushed forcefully for the Washington Commanders NFL team to switch back to the original franchise name of “Redskins,” and floated the notion of tying the name change to the new stadium deal.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”
In a follow-up post, Trump noted: “My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way.
“I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ 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.
“Cleveland should do the same with the Cleveland Indians. The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn’t understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!”
The Major League Baseball franchise in Cleveland is now known as the Cleveland Guardians, after having been the Indians for more than a century from 1915 through 2021. Controversy over its politically incorrect mascot Chief Wahoo sparked the change.
On July 6 in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump was asked by reporters if he would like to change the Commanders name back to Redskins.
“I would,” Trump responded. “I wouldn’t have changed the name.”
BREAKING — President Trump says he may put a “restriction” on the Washington Commanders building a new stadium in D.C. if they don’t change their name back to the Washington Redskins. “MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!”
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “My statement on the Washington… pic.twitter.com/o2six6fPyp
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) July 20, 2025
The president explained the current name “doesn’t have the same ring to me. But, you know, winning can make everything sound good. So if they win, all of a sudden the Commanders sounds good. But I wouldn’t have changed the name.”
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