President Donald Trump reiterated calls for the Washington Commanders to change their team name back to the Redskins.
In recent weeks, Trump has threatened to block the construction of a new Commanders stadium should owner Josh Harris not revert to the old team name, which the previous ownership group changed following significant pressure from Native American groups.
“Oh, I love that. I love the sound of that,” Trump told reporters when asked about another potential name change Thursday. “I’d do the Washington Redskins. I think they should do it. I told the mayor, and I told people that they should bring back the name. If they bring back the name, you’ll have a lot of excitement.”
“It’s a fabled franchise, and now I don’t even know what the hell their last name is,” he continued. “What are they, Commanders or something? Is it Commanders? It’s not a good name.”
Harris, who purchased the team before the 2024 season, claimed in February this year that he has no plans to return the team to its former name.
However, the reports from earlier this week suggest that Harris and his ownership group might actually be considering Trump’s threats, though he likely has little legal recourse to pause the new stadium buildout.
The Washington, DC city council plans to vote on a $3.7 billion proposal Friday for the Commanders’ new stadium, which will be constructed at the site currently occupied by RFK Stadium in Northeast DC.
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You can watch Trump’s comments in full below.