Donald Trump Tells NFL and MLB Owners to Reverse Woke Name Changes

President Donald Trump on Monday urged the Washington Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians to return to their former team names, citing broad support among fans and Native American communities.

The message was posted to Trump’s Truth Social platform and comes amid continued debate over the renaming of long-standing professional sports franchises.

“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them,” President Trump wrote.

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“Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!” he added.

The Washington NFL franchise officially retired the “Redskins” name in July 2020 following decades of controversy surrounding its logo and branding.

Critics argued the term was a racial slur offensive to Native Americans. The decision came amid pressure from key corporate sponsors, including FedEx, Nike, and Pepsi, who threatened to withdraw financial support unless the name was changed.

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The team temporarily played under the name “Washington Football Team” before adopting “Commanders” as the permanent name in 2022.

Similarly, the Cleveland Major League Baseball team, formerly known as the Indians, announced in 2021 that it would rebrand as the Guardians.

The announcement followed years of criticism over the use of Native American imagery and the name “Indians,” which several advocacy groups argued was racially insensitive and promoted harmful stereotypes.

The move came one year after the Cleveland franchise retired its mascot “Chief Wahoo,” a cartoonish depiction of a Native American that had long drawn criticism.

The team’s decision to drop the name “Indians” was finalized after consultation with community leaders, Native American groups, and MLB officials.

President Trump previously commented on Cleveland’s name change in 2020, writing at the time, “Oh no! What is going on? This is not good news, even for ‘Indians’. Cancel culture at work!”

Oh no! What is going on? This is not good news, even for “Indians”. Cancel culture at work! https://t.co/d1l0C9g6Pd

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2020

Trump has repeatedly voiced opposition to what he describes as politically motivated rebranding efforts in sports and entertainment.

His recent post marks a renewed push for the restoration of historic team identities, which he argues were changed not to address legitimate concerns, but due to pressure from corporations and activist groups.

There has been ongoing debate about the Washington team name in particular.

In 2023, Native American Guardians Association submitted a formal petition to the NFL requesting that the team revert to its original name, citing support from members of Native American communities who viewed the term as a symbol of strength and legacy rather than an insult.

Both franchises have stood by their decisions, with Washington Commanders leadership affirming in previous statements that the rebranding reflects a commitment to inclusion.

The Cleveland Guardians have also defended their name change as part of a broader effort to respect the diversity of the team’s fanbase.

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