Trump Demands NFL and MLB Teams Revert to Racially Charged Names in Fiery Rant. President Targets Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians, Threatens Stadium Plans
On July 20, 2025, President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery call on Truth Social, demanding that the NFL’s Washington Commanders and MLB’s Cleveland Guardians revert to their former names, which were abandoned in 2020 and 2021 due to their racially insensitive connotations toward Native Americans.
Labeling the current names a disservice to “our great Indian people,” Trump’s posts sparked controversy, with threats to block the Commanders’ new stadium plans and a misstep on baseball history. As team owners push back, the debate reignites tensions over cultural sensitivity and sports branding. Here’s a deep dive into Trump’s demands, the teams’ responses, and the broader implications.
Trump’s Truth Social Tirade
In a series of posts on Sunday, Trump targeted the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians, urging them to restore their previous names, which were changed following decades of criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back,” Trump wrote, claiming “massive numbers” of Native Americans support the move, though no evidence backs this assertion.
He argued that the teams’ heritage and prestige are being “systematically taken away,” citing a shift in cultural climate since the names were changed three to four years ago.
Trump escalated his rhetoric by threatening to block the Commanders’ plan to build a new stadium on the former RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C., unless they revert their name. However, his leverage is questionable, as President Joe Biden signed a bill in January 2025 transferring the site’s control to the D.C. city government for 99 years, limiting federal authority.
In a separate post, Trump extended his demand to the Cleveland Guardians, calling them “one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past.” This claim drew scrutiny, as baseball has no “original six” (a term tied to the NHL), and Cleveland’s team, a charter member of the American League in 1901, has cycled through names like Lakeshores, Bluebirds, Broncos, Naps, and Indians before adopting Guardians in 2021.
A History of Controversy
The Washington Commanders, formerly a name widely recognized as a racial slur, faced decades of pressure from Native American groups and activists to change. Under former owner Daniel Snyder, the team resisted until 2020, when sponsor pressure and a national reckoning on race led to a temporary rebrand as the Washington Football Team, followed by the Commanders in 2022.
The Cleveland Guardians, previously the Indians, also faced criticism for their name and the “Chief Wahoo” mascot, a caricature deemed offensive. The team’s shift to Guardians, inspired by the Hope Memorial Bridge’s art deco statues, was part of a broader movement, with teams like the Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Chiefs also facing scrutiny but retaining their names.
The name changes followed years of protests, with Native American advocates arguing that such monikers trivialized their culture and perpetuated harmful stereotypes. A 2020 study by UC Berkeley found that Native American mascots negatively impacted mental health and self-esteem among Indigenous youth.
However, some fans and commentators, including Trump, have claimed the changes erase tradition, with posts on X echoing his sentiment: “Bring back the old names, it’s about pride!” Others countered, “The names were slurs, plain and simple. Move on.”
Team Owners Stand Firm
Both teams swiftly rejected Trump’s demands. Josh Harris, who purchased the Commanders in 2023 for $6.05 billion, has consistently supported the current name, emphasizing a fresh start for the franchise. In a statement last year, Harris said, “The Commanders name reflects our commitment to leadership and unity.” The team’s proposed RFK Stadium project, aimed at revitalizing the D.C. site by 2030, remains a priority, with local officials dismissing Trump’s threat as impractical given the city’s control.
Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, also defended the team’s identity on July 20, 2025. “We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but we’ve built a strong brand as the Guardians,” he said, highlighting the team’s focus on its future, including a 2025 playoff push.
The local history, has been embraced by most fans, with merchandise sales up 20% since the rebrand, per team reports. Antonetti’s remarks signal no plans to revisit the past, despite Trump’s call to “GET IT DONE!!!”
Political and Cultural Implications
Trump’s posts tap into a broader narrative of resisting “woke culture,” a recurring theme in his presidency. By framing the name changes as an attack on “heritage,” he appeals to a base nostalgic for traditional sports branding, as seen in X posts like, “Trump’s right, the old names had history!”
However, his claim that “massive numbers” of Native Americans support reverting lacks evidence, with groups like the National Congress of American Indians praising the changes as steps toward respect. A 2021 poll by the Pew Research Center found 67% of Americans supported retiring Native American mascots, though opinions split along political lines.
The timing of Trump’s remarks, days after his inauguration on July 17, 2025, suggests an intent to reignite cultural debates early in his term. His mention of a changed “climate” since 2020-2022, when the names were dropped, aligns with his broader push against progressive reforms.
However, his baseball history error—referencing a nonexistent “original six”—drew mockery online, with one X user quipping, “Trump’s out here rewriting sports history.” The controversy also risks alienating fans who have embraced the new identities, with the Commanders’ social media touting their “new era” and the Guardians focusing on community engagement.
What’s Next?
Neither team shows signs of budging, and Trump’s ability to influence the RFK Stadium project is limited by D.C.’s control. The Commanders are moving forward with stadium plans, backed by a $100 million city investment, while the Guardians, under new ownership following Larry Dolan’s passing in 2025, are focused on a World Series run. The debate may fuel political rhetoric, but practical change seems unlikely. As one X post noted, “Trump’s fighting for names nobody wants back except his base.”
This controversy highlights the ongoing tension between cultural sensitivity and sports tradition, with Trump’s demands unlikely to reverse years of progress. As South Korea’s recent floods (17 dead) and other global events dominate headlines, this story underscores how sports can become a battleground for broader societal debates.
