So, guess what? Donald Trump is back in the spotlight, not for politics this time, but for pushing the Washington Commanders to change their name back to the “Redskins.” Yeah, that old name that got tossed in 2020 after it was widely deemed offensive toward Native Americans.
Over on Truth Social, Trump is saying stuff like: “There’s a huge call for the old names – Redskins and even Cleveland’s Indians.” He claims Native Americans want it, and that restoring these names would honor their heritage. He even whipped out his classic flair and threatened to block a new $3.7 billion stadium deal in D.C. if they don’t comply.
The White House doubled down, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming, yes, he’s serious: “Sports is one of his passions … he’ll use his negotiation skills on this.”
But hold up – current team owner Josh Harris is having none of it. The Commanders rebranded in 2022 and they’re committed to keeping the name. Plus, advocacy groups like the Black Liberation Indigenous Sovereignty Collective and the National Congress of American Indians are outraged. They say that “Redskins” is offensive, tied to a history of violence (even bounties on Native scalps!), and shouldn’t be revived.
Journalist Troy Littledeer, a Keetoowah Cherokee, called this whole thing out as a stunt – suggesting Trump’s just trying to distract people amid his other… legal and PR issues. Littledeer pointed out that “Redskins” has been officially recognized as a racial slur with violent roots. And The Washington Post slammed it too, calling it a “classic political distraction” while Trump’s under fire over past controversies.
So what’s the vibe among fans and Washington D.C. residents? It’s mixed. Some folks roll their eyes and say, “Okay, Trump’s stirring stuff up again,” while others don’t even care about the name as long as the team plays well. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also weighed in, urging everyone to focus on local work to finalize that stadium deal instead of going off on name tangents.