Racism in the name? Trump wants NFL team "Redskins" back

Washington. US President Donald Trump is urging the NFL team Washington Commanders to revert to its old name. "The Washington 'whatevers' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team," the Republican wrote on his Truth Social platform. The football team abandoned its Redskins name years ago after criticism from Native Americans and has been called the Commanders since 2022.

Trump coupled his demand with a threat: "I may impose a restriction on them if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington Redskins' and get rid of the ridiculous nickname 'Washington Commanders.'" He continued: "I will then not make a deal for them to build a stadium in Washington."

US President Donald Trump threatens to "make no deal to build a stadium in Washington."

Source: Patrick Semansky/AP/dpa

Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, signed a law in January of this year transferring the site of the now-demolished Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington to the District of Columbia. This laid the groundwork for the construction of a new stadium on the same site.

Trump is also demanding a name reversal from the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, formerly known as the Cleveland Indians. Trump claimed that times are different now than they were three or four years ago.

Years ago, the death of African American George Floyd during a police operation in the USA sparked a debate about racism and led to reflection on memorials and name changes.

RND/dpa