In a bold appeal to tradition and common sense, President Donald J. Trump has now reportedly renewed his call for the Washington Commanders to restore their historic “Redskins” name — a moniker the team dropped in 2020 amid a wave of corporate pressure and cultural controversy.
Writing on his Truth Social platform Sunday, the president dismissed the team’s current name entirely and made the case that many Native Americans actually oppose the removal of longstanding tribal references in sports — a perspective that has gained traction in conservative circles over the past several years.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team,” Trump declared. “There is a big clamoring for this. 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.”
Trump’s call reflects a broader cultural pushback against what many on the right view as performative wokeness — in this case, the erasure of traditional sports identities in the name of political correctness.
Supporters of the old names argue that these changes, often led by corporate sponsors and activist pressure groups, are both unpopular and patronizing.
“Times are different now than they were three or four years ago,” Trump wrote. “We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”
The Washington football franchise abandoned the Redskins name in 2020 following years of pressure, despite decades of use and a dedicated fan base.
The team played two seasons without a name before rebranding as the “Commanders,” a title that many fans criticized as uninspired and disconnected from the team’s identity.
While some polling from 2020 suggested a slim majority of Native Americans opposed the Redskins name and associated imagery, such findings have been challenged by others who argue the surveys were limited in scope and influenced by media-driven narratives.
Among Native American leaders and communities, opinion has remained far from monolithic — a point often overlooked by the mainstream press.
Trump’s statement also touched on Major League Baseball’s Cleveland franchise, which dropped its “Indians” name to become the “Guardians.” Like the Redskins decision, the change was framed by critics as an unnecessary concession to activist groups rather than a response to widespread community demand.
Despite Trump’s repeated public statements on the issue, there is no indication that Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris plans to revert the team’s name.
Nevertheless, Trump’s remarks strike at a deeper cultural divide — one that pits a legacy of proud tradition and fan loyalty against what many view as elite-imposed language codes. As Trump ramps up for another election season, the battle over names, symbols, and identity appears far from over.
[READ MORE: Leftist Government of Brazil Raids Home of Trump Ally Bolsonaro]
