President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, July 20, 2025, stating he may block the team’s planned return to Washington, D.C., if they do not revert to the name Washington Redskins. This warning was delivered through several detailed posts on Truth Social, where Trump also called for MLB’s Cleveland Guardians to return to their earlier “Indians” nickname.
On Truth Social, Trump stated that he might “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.” This threat directly impacts the team’s $3.8 billion stadium development project at the former RFK Stadium location.
The Commanders announced in April that they had reached an agreement with the District of Columbia to develop the 420-acre RFK Stadium site. The project includes not only the stadium but also housing, green space, and a sports complex. The team plans to contribute $2.7 billion, while the city invests about $1.1 billion in the development.
The franchise retired the “Redskins” nickname in 2020 following widespread criticism that the name was racially insensitive towards Native Americans. The team briefly used the name Washington Football Team before adopting the name Commanders in 2022. The previous nickname had been in place since 1933.
Commanders owner Josh Harris has strongly opposed the idea of returning to the former name. Harris mentioned in August that the old nickname cannot return “for obvious reasons.” Earlier this year, he expressed that the Commanders’ name is now embraced by the team, culture, and coaching staff, and they are committed to moving forward with that identity.
The federal government transferred administrative control of the RFK Stadium land to the District of Columbia in January through legislation signed by then-President Joe Biden. The provision was included in a short-term spending bill passed by Congress in December. However, the project has faced challenges at the local government level, with the D.C. City Council missing a crucial deadline to vote on the site development.
Trump’s ability to interfere with the stadium deal remains unclear. While D.C. residents elect local officials to handle day-to-day operations, Congress maintains control over the city’s budget. This congressional oversight could offer potential avenues for federal intervention in the development project.
The legislation formalizing the stadium deal is expected to be discussed in public hearings later this month. The D.C. City Council faces significant public pressure regarding the project’s costs and housing priorities, which could further complicate the development timeline.
Trump’s criticism extends beyond the Commanders to other teams that have changed names in recent years. He specifically targeted MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, demanding they return to their former “Indians” nickname. The Guardians officially changed their name before the 2022 season, shortly after discontinuing use of the “Chief Wahoo” logo.
Guardians president Chris Antonetti responded to Trump’s demands without mentioning the president by name. Antonetti acknowledged that there are different perspectives on the name change decision made several years ago, but emphasized that the organization has spent four years building the Guardians brand and remains excited about the future.
The Commanders have not publicly addressed Trump’s Truth Social posts or responded to his ultimatum regarding the stadium development. The team’s silence comes as they navigate the complex approval process for their return to Washington, D.C., after decades of playing in suburban Maryland.
Both the Commanders and Guardians changed their names and logos following sustained criticism that the previous identities were offensive and racist toward Native Americans. The transitions represented significant rebranding efforts for both franchises, involving extensive fan engagement and marketing campaigns to establish new identities.
The stadium project represents a potential return to the franchise’s former home, as the team played at RFK Stadium for more than three decades before relocating to their current facility in suburban Virginia. The development would mark a significant milestone for the organization’s efforts to reconnect with its Washington, D.C., fanbase and establish a permanent presence in the nation’s capital.