Sports

Trump Demands Sports Teams Restore Former Native American Names

Published JUL 21 2025

Story

Above: A Washington Redskins helmet on a field in 2019. Image credit: All-Pro Reels via Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday demanded that the Washington Commanders immediately change their name back to the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Guardians revert to the Indians, claiming "our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen."
Truthsocial
The Washington NFL franchise dropped the Redskins name after the 2019 season amid criticism and corporate pressure, becoming the Washington Football Team for two seasons before adopting the Commanders name in 2022 under owner Josh Harris.
ap
Daily Caller
CBS News
Cleveland's baseball team changed from the Indians to the Guardians in 2021, retiring a name used since 1915 along with the controversial "Chief Wahoo" mascot that had drawn decades of criticism from Native American groups.
Daily Caller
guardian
In a subsequent statement, Trump threatened to block a complicated stadium deal for the Commanders to return to Washington, D.C. at the RFK Stadium site unless they restore the Redskins name, writing he "may put a restriction" on the federal land deal.
Truthsocial
A 2016 Washington Post poll found 90% of 504 self-identified Native American adults were not offended by the Redskins name, though critics have challenged the reliability of such surveys, and academic research has shown conflicting results.
The Washington Post
Daily Mail
Commanders owner Josh Harris stated earlier in 2025 that the organization was committed to the Commanders name. Guardians president Chris Antonetti indicated Sunday that there were no plans to revisit the name change.
ap
Forbes

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

These name changes were woke overreach that ironically stripped away Native American heritage and pride, as the original names celebrate the honor and recognition of Native peoples. Corporate pressure and cancel culture forced these unnecessary changes during the racial tensions of 2020, and they should be changed back immediately.

Daily Caller

Breitbart

Anti-Trump narrative

The old names were racial slurs that caused harm to Native American communities for decades. Teams made the right decision to evolve beyond offensive terminology that perpetuated harmful stereotypes. Changing the names back to please Trump's whims would be absurd and problematic. The current names should remain as is.

Daily Mail

guardian