Liam Griffin | July 21, 2025

(The Washington Times) — President Trump wants the Washington Commanders to return to the Redskins name and re-embrace the franchise’s iconic Indian imagery that was retired in 2020. He threatened the franchise’s deal to build a new RFK Stadium in the District if it failed to comply.

“The Washington ’Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team,” he posted Sunday on Truth Social. “There is a big clamoring for this.”

The Commanders name has been a sore spot for many football fans since the team unveiled the new name in 2022 after two seasons as the Washington Football Team.

The District’s club changed its name under former owner Dan Snyder in 2020 amid mounting public pressure. Sponsors like Nike and FedEx worried the name and logo were racially insensitive, a delicate issue as “Black Lives Matter” protests popped up across the country.

The new name is still ridiculed, but calls for a change quieted last season as the Commanders earned their first playoff victory in 19 years.

Mr. Trump demanded a similar redirection for MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, who changed their name in 2022.

“Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen,” he posted. “Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them.”

After news outlets pounced on the story, the president posted a follow-up message on Sunday afternoon to raise the stake for the Commanders and their fans.

“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,” Mr. Trump wrote. “The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be more exciting for everyone.”

The Commanders are still negotiating a deal to build a new arena at the old RFK Stadium site in the District. The deal is subject to approval from the city council after federal officials gave the city a 99-year lease of the site late last year.

City councilmembers are hosting public forums on the stadium proposal this week, with a vote expected in the next month.

Mr. Trump did not specify how he could affect the deal.

The Commanders did not issue an official comment on Sunday.

However, the Guardians indicated the team has no plans to change the name back to the Indians.

“We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but obviously it’s a decision we made,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. “We’ve got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that’s in front of us.”

Sunday’s posts marked a shift from comments the president made earlier this month. Before boarding Air Force One on July 6, the president said he wouldn’t have changed the name. Still, he noted, another successful season with star quarterback Jayden Daniels could change things.

“Winning can make everything sound good,” Mr. Trump posted. “If they win, all of a sudden the Commanders sound good. But I wouldn’t have changed the name.”

Two weeks later, Mr. Trump took a much firmer stand.

“Times are different now than they were three or four years ago,” he wrote on Sunday. “We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”

The Republican’s social media post drew mixed reactions on Sunday. Long-time opponents of the new name were emboldened by Mr. Trump’s support.

“97% of you agreed both teams should do this in a recent poll I ran,” Clay Travis, founder of the conservative sports news site OutKick, wrote on X.

Others viewed the posts more skeptically.

The president has received continued criticism from his base regarding files from Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. During his campaign, Mr. Trump said he would release the information when he won a second term. This month, the Republican has downplayed the documents, calling it a “hoax” and describing his supporters as “weaklings.”

“This man is in the middle of an Epstein scandal, a border meltdown, and collapsing poll numbers,” political podcaster Brian Allen wrote on X. “And he’s frothing at the mouth about football mascots.”

Commanders owner Josh Harris has repeatedly said that the new name is here to stay. But the franchise has harkened back to its roots in recent months.

Amid plans to return to the RFK Stadium site in the District, the Commanders started featuring the old name and logo on social media. The team will wear throwback uniforms — minus the Indian helmet logo — three times next season.

“Our coaches, players and the entire organization could not be more excited to celebrate our team’s legacy while creating new memories in these uniforms this season,” team president Mark Clouse said.

After Sunday’s renewed name discussions, some opportunistic fans are hoping for more special edition merchandise.

“If I’m the Washington Commanders, I drop a limited edition Washington Whatever’s capsule collection this week,” film producer and football fan Franklin Leonard wrote on social media.

The Commanders open training camp on Tuesday as they prepare for a season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 7.