Trump demands return of Redskins, Indians major sports team nicknames

Donald Trump is threatening to sink a $5.67bn stadium deal unless Washington’s NFL team drops its ‘ridiculous’ Commanders moniker.

Donald Trump is calling for the return of the Redskins and Indians sports nicknames.

A proposed new $US3.7bn ($5.67bn) stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders is under pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to scuttle the deal if the team’s nickname is not changed.

The former Washington Redskins, who in 2020 dropped the controversial nickname many saw as racist, adopted the name Washington Football Team before rebranding to the Commanders in 2022.

In weekend social media posts, Mr Trump said he wants to see the team restore its old nickname and also called upon Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians to revert to their old nickname of Indians.

“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,” the President posted.

Washington’s city council is studying plans before voting on final approval for a deal struck by the club and mayor Muriel Bowser to build a new 65,000-seat domed venue on the site of RFK Stadium, the club’s former home before it moved to the Maryland suburbs.

Asked Monday about Mr Trump’s threat, Ms Bowser said a name change by the club would not alter her support of the deal.

Instead, she ripped the council for delays on approving the stadium deal that would rely on about $US1.1bn in taxpayer funds.

Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, defunct and under demolition, in Washington, DC, where a proposed new stadium is planned. Picture: AFP

“What I’m concerned about is we haven’t done our part and so we need to complete our part so that the team can get to work, so that local businesses can get hired, so that we can start earning the tax revenue that will come when we deliver the Commanders’ stadium,” the mayor said.

DC Council chair Phil Mendelson said in a statement that Mr Trump’s threat would not push the council’s timeline for considering all aspects of the deal, including at a hearing next week.

“I am focused on getting the best deal for District taxpayers and getting the deal across the finish line,” he said.

Progressive Field in Cleveland during the 2020 season. Picture: Getty Images

“I have heard from no – zero – District residents complaining about the name change or saying this is an issue in connection with the stadium.”

The RFK Stadium site for the proposed new stadium is on federal land but US politicians gave control of the site to the city last year.

Mr Trump, who said the team would be more valuable by reverting to its former nickname, could impact the deal through US federal committees that approve DC construction projects.

Agencies