President Trump called for the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former names, the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians, respectively, citing a perceived demand from Native Americans.
He argued that the name changes, which occurred amid a national reckoning over racism following George Floyd’s 2020 murder, stripped away heritage and prestige, and even threatened to block a $4 billion stadium deal for the Commanders if they didn’t comply. The controversy surrounding the original names stems from their use of Native American imagery and terms, like “Redskins,” deemed a racial slur by many Indigenous groups and critics, leading to pressure from sponsors and activists for rebranding. The Washington team dropped “Redskins” in 2020 after decades of criticism, becoming the Washington Football Team temporarily before settling on Commanders in 2022, while Cleveland phased out “Indians” and “Chief Wahoo” in 2021 for the Guardians name.
Some fans and Trump supporters advocate for the old names, claiming they honor tradition and that certain Native American voices support their retention, though evidence for widespread Indigenous backing is lacking. Trump’s statements, including his “Make Indians Great Again” slogan, reflect his view that the changes were politically motivated and degrading, aligning with his past defenses of such names.
Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris has firmly stated the team will stick with the current name, emphasizing its growing acceptance, while the team has not directly responded to Trump’s latest remarks. Cleveland Guardians’ president Chris Antonetti dismissed the idea of reverting, noting the team is focused on building the Guardians brand after four years. Despite Trump’s push, both teams have shown no intention of reversing their decisions in the near future.
We want to ask you, the reader: do you support the name changes of the Redskins and Indians? Answer in our poll below and comment your thoughts on whether the old names should be deemed offensive.
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