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President Donald Trump is renewing his push to restore the former names of two major professional sports franchises, arguing that changes made in the name of political correctness have erased important aspects of American heritage.
In a post on Truth Social Sunday, Trump called on the NFL’s Washington Commanders to revert to their previous name, the Washington Redskins, and asked Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians to return to their original name, the Cleveland Indians.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should immediately change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team,” Trump wrote. “There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past.”
Both franchises dropped their longstanding names in recent years under pressure from activists and corporate sponsors who said the names were offensive to Native Americans. The Redskins temporarily became the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022. The Indians adopted the Guardians name in 2021.
Trump has frequently criticized what he describes as “cancel culture” and efforts to rename sports teams, military bases and public landmarks. In his latest statement, he argued that traditional franchise names such as Redskins and Indians honored Native American history, rather than insulted it.
“Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen,” Trump wrote. “Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago.”
Trump also referred to similar efforts during his presidency to reverse changes made under the Biden administration, including efforts to rename U.S. military bases previously named after Confederate generals. He framed the naming controversies as part of a larger cultural battle.
“We are a country of passion and common sense,” he wrote. “Owners, get it done!!!”
While the Commanders and Guardians ultimately changed their names, other franchises with Native American references, such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves, have kept their names despite some controversy.
