U.S. President Donald Trump has made a significant threat to an NFL team, which could jeopardise a proposed $4 billion deal for the club.
Trump, 79, has been left furious as two sports teams have changed their names due to “pressure from corporate sponsors and Native American groups”, according to The New York Times.
The decision relates to the NFL team Washington Commanders – previously Washington Redskins - and the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians – previously Cleveland Indians.
Washington changed their name back in 2022 and in a statement explained how they would "be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of a review" demanded by its sponsors. Cleveland dropped their previous name in 2021 due to pressure from some fan groups and accusations that the name was racist.
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In a post on Truth Social on Sunday (July 20), the President wrote: “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!!!”
But that was not all, Trump later added: “I won’t make a deal for them to build a stadium in Washington. The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be exciting for everyone.”
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The President referenced the reported $4 billion project to build a new stadium at the RFK site.
According to ESPN, in April, the Commanders reached an agreement to build a 65,000-seat stadium at the site of the RFK – the club’s previous home between 1961 and 1997.
Of the proposed $4 billion cost, the Commanders will put in $2.7 billion while the district will add a further $1.117 billion to cover aspects such as retail shops, restaurants, parking garages, and a multi-sport complex. The stadium is planned to be ready by 2030.
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Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians’ team president, Chris Antonetti, made his feelings clear despite pressure from Trump.
“Not something I’m tracking or paying a lot of attention to, but I would say generally, I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago,” Antonetti said when asked about Trump’s post.
“But it’s a decision we made and we’ve gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we’re excited about the future that’s in front of us.”
Topics: Donald Trump, NFL
Luke Davies