CLEVELAND — President Donald Trump has threatened to delay a new stadium deal for Washington’s NFL team unless it reverts to its former name, the Redskins. This name was previously deemed offensive to Native Americans. On Sunday, Trump also expressed a desire for Cleveland’s baseball team to return to its old name, the Indians, claiming there is a significant demand for this change.

The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have maintained their current names since the 2022 seasons and have stated they have no intention of reverting. Trump argued that the Washington football team would be “much more valuable” if it returned to the Redskins name. He stated on his social media platform, “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.”

Trump's comments reflect a broader push to reverse changes made during a national conversation about cultural sensitivity and racial justice. The team announced in 2020 that it would drop the Redskins name and the Indian head logo amid growing scrutiny over systemic racism and police brutality.

Earlier this year, the Commanders and the District of Columbia government reached an agreement to construct a new stadium at the site of the former RFK Stadium, where the franchise played for over three decades. However, it remains uncertain whether Trump can influence this deal. In January, President Joe Biden signed legislation transferring the land from federal control to the District of Columbia, a move included in a short-term spending bill passed by Congress in December.

While D.C. residents elect local officials to manage daily operations, Congress retains authority over the city’s budget. Josh Harris, who purchased the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, has previously stated that the team name will not change. Shortly after acquiring the team, Harris dismissed speculation about a return to the Redskins name.

The Commanders did not respond to requests for comment following Trump’s remarks. The franchise began as the Redskins in Boston in 1933 before relocating to Washington, D.C., four years later.

In Cleveland, Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations for the Guardians, indicated before a recent game that there are no plans to reconsider the name change. “We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but obviously it’s a decision we made. We’ve got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that’s in front of us,” he said.

Cleveland announced in December 2020 that it would drop the Indians name, officially becoming the Guardians in July 2021. The team phased out the controversial “Chief Wahoo” logo in 2018. The name changes have sparked both support and criticism amid ongoing national discussions about names and logos viewed as racist.

Trump also commented on the Guardians’ ownership, stating, “The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn’t understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!”

Matt Dolan, the son of the late Larry Dolan, no longer holds a position with the Guardians. He previously managed the team’s charitable efforts until 2016 and ran for the Ohio U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024 but was unsuccessful. Washington and Cleveland share a connection through David Blitzer, a member of Harris’ ownership group for the Commanders, who also holds a minority stake in the Guardians.