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Trump Urges Guardians and Commanders to Restore Native American Team Names

Prime Highlights

  • Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians President Donald Trump requests that the two teams return to their heritage titles.
  • Accuses Native Americans of being insulted by name drops and warns of political defiance.

Key Fact

  • The Commanders abandoned the “Redskins” title in 2020 and became the Commanders in 2022.
  • Guardians substituted “Indians” in 2022 following decades of cultural controversy.

Key Background

US former President Donald Trump reopened the controversy over the sports team names by calling for the NFL’s Washington Commanders and the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians to bring back their original names, “Redskins” and “Indians.” His revelation was on Truth Social, where he lamented the name changes as an affront to Native American communities and pointed out that the majority of Indigenous populations had appreciated the original names.

Trump stoked the anger by tying his demand with a potential stadium agreement. Trump threatened to stall construction on the Commanders’ new stadium at historic RFK in Washington, D.C., if the team did not bring back the “Redskins” name. Regardless, it is doubtful how much influence he would be able to exert because the property has already been transferred to the city under an extended agreement.

The owners have resisted strenuously. Josh Harris, the owner of the Commanders since 2023, declined a name change, crediting the devotion of the franchise to the current name. The management of the Cleveland Guardians also discussed the devotion to the new name that was chosen after decades of efforts to retire racially insensitive branding and imagery.

Both brands rebranded with the 2020 protests for mass social justice. Washington dropped the Redskins name while heightened demands for racial equality first emerged with a placeholder name—Washington Football Team—before they ultimately settled on the Commanders brand. Cleveland dropped “Indians” during decades of complaints about the racial connotations and retired the provocative “Chief Wahoo” mascot.

Trump’s insistence is a deeper cultural political force in the U.S., particularly where tradition meets growing social sensitivity. Trump supporters are those who embrace the continued use of Native-themed names as symbols of honor or heritage, while on the other hand, there are those that see them as outdated stereotypes that are offensive. Currently, the Commanders and Guardians appear to remain committed to their modern view, resisting political pressure and standing firm against inclusive representation in pro sports.