The Washington Commanders officially dropped the “Redskins” moniker in 2020 amid public pressure and concerns that the name was offensive to Native Americans. They played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before rebranding as the Washington Commanders in 2022. The current owner, Josh Harris, has stated there are no plans to revert to the old name, but that hasn’t stopped President Donald Trump from weighing in, stating this morning that a change back to Redskins should occur “IMMEDIATELY.”
President Trump has stated on multiple occasions that he would not have changed the name himself, claiming it “doesn’t have the same ring” and that he believes the previous name had “heritage” and was “superior.” He has also stated that he has spoken to “people of Indian heritage” who he claims approved of the old name, believing the change to be “degrading to the Indian population.”
Josh Harris, the controlling owner of the Washington Commanders, has stated that the team’s name is not changing. He has made it clear that the “Commanders” name is “here to stay” since he and his group purchased the team from the previous owner in 2023. Harris has expressed that the name is being “embraced by our team, by our culture, by our coaching staff,” and that “in this building, the name Commanders means something.” He believes the name is “growing in meaning” and represents players who are tough, love football, and are great teammates. While Harris has indicated that aspects of the team’s past, including old uniforms, might return to “honor our past,” he has consistently stated that the name itself will not revert to “Redskins.”
President Trunp shared the following on social media today:
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. 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!!!
