President Donald Trump reignited the once-heated controversy over the Washington Commanders‘ name, voicing strong support for the team’s former identity, the Washington Redskins, and calling the current name “inferior” during a conversation with conservative radio host John Fredericks on Tuesday.
While Fredericks inquired about a potential stadium deal involving federal land, he also asked if the team could be required to revert to its original name as part of any future negotiations. Though Trump had no updates on the stadium, he made his position clear: he prefers the old name.
“The Indian population is a great part of this country, great heritage,” Trump said, defending the use of Native American-themed sports names. “And they like when they’re called by various names.”
Trump cited the Kansas City Chiefs and lamented similar changes, such as the Cleveland Indians becoming the Cleveland Guardians. He said the name “Redskins” had meaning, legacy and history.
“I think it’s degrading to the Indian population, and it’s a great population,” he said. “I spoke to people of Indian heritage and they love that name and they love that team. I think it’s a superior name to what they have right now. It had heritage behind it; it had something special.”
After years of pressure and criticism that the name “Redskins” was racially insensitive, the franchise temporarily adopted the placeholder name “Washington Football Team” before settling on “Commanders” in 2022.
Despite ongoing calls from fans and even some Native American groups to bring back the Redskins name, team leadership remains adamant that it won’t happen. In 2023, team president Jason Wright dismissed the idea outright.
The controversy flared up again recently when texts from a premium-seat sales manager at the team suggested personal support for the Redskins name. A petition to restore the name has since garnered over 100,000 signatures, led by the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), a group of tribal-enrolled Native Americans advocating for the restoration of traditional names and symbols.
NAGA’s co-founder Eunice Davidson responded sharply, accusing the Commanders of erasing Native history and discrediting tribal voices.
Trump’s comments reflect a broader cultural divide, with many conservatives pushing back against what they see as unnecessary political correctness and erasure of tradition. By aligning himself with groups like NAGA and millions of longtime fans, Trump once again situates himself in the center of America’s culture wars — this time, on the gridiron.
The question remains whether the Redskins name will ever return — or remain another casualty of a changing cultural landscape.
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