Trump's Name Controversy Threatens New Stadium for Commanders

In a move that has captured attention, Trump threatens to intervene in the Washington Commanders' stadium plans unless they change their name.

In a bold statement, former President Donald Trump has announced he may block the proposed deal for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders unless the NFL team honors its history by reverting to its former name, the Redskins. Trump's comments were made via Truth Social on July 20, 2025, where he acknowledged a significant demand for the name change from the newly branded Commanders back to the Redskins, suggesting that such a move would enhance the team's market value.

The Commanders abandoned the Redskins name in 2020 after widespread criticism regarding its racist connotations toward Native Americans. They spent the 2020 season temporarily dubbed the Washington Football Team before adopting the name Commanders in 2022. Plans for a new stadium, which are estimated to cost around £3 billion and seat approximately 65,000 fans, have been under discussion since an agreement was reached in April this year to build where the RFK Stadium once stood—home to the team from 1961 until its closure in 1997.

Just last week, the DC Council was urged to expedite the approval of the stadium by prominent Republican figures. Trump, capitalizing on a wave of nostalgia, tweeted, "I may restrict them from building in Washington unless they revert to the original Washington Redskins name. The team’s brand would soar in value, making the deal alluring for fans and stakeholders alike."

In a remarkable moment earlier this year, Trump became the first sitting president in U.S. history to attend the Super Bowl, where the Philadelphia Eagles triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs. Additionally, he has reignited discussions surrounding the Cleveland Guardians' name change back to the Indians, a move he claims reflects the desires of many Indigenous people. Guardians' team president Chris Antonetti, however, indicated that guiding current discussions around name changes isn’t a priority for them.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) recently expressed concern about remarks supporting the use of Native-themed mascots, stating that such representations promote harmful stereotypes and trivialize Indigenous culture. The debate over team names continues to elicit strong responses from various stakeholders as the Commanders await clarity on the future of their stadium project. BBC Sport has reached out to the Washington Commanders for additional commentary on Trump’s remarks.