Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, NFL, American Football
John McDougall
US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked NFL outfit Washington Commanders to name their planned $3.7bn stadium after him.
President Trump is in his second term of office in the White House after emerging victorious in the elections held late in 2024 against Kamala Harris.
The 79-year-old's second spell in the Oval Office has been characterised by a host of controversial decisions including mass layoffs of federal employees in a bid to save money, the targeting of political opponents, and placing reciprocal tariffs on exports to the United States, including from the UK.
President Trump is also well known for his interest in sports, particularly golf, as he owns multiple courses around the world.
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The US capital is Washington D.C. where the White House is, and its NFL franchise is the Washington Commanders, who are in action today against the Detroit Lions at the Northwest Stadium.
President Trump is reportedly due to attend the game today as a guest of Josh Harris, who is a member of the Commanders' ownership group.
A new stadium for the NFL franchise is being built on the site of the old RFK Stadium site, which was the Commanders' home between 1961 and 1996.
The Northwest Stadium has been their home since 1997, but President Trump is said to want the new venue to bear his name.
According to a report by ESPN, numerous sources have told the publication that President Trump wants the new stadium to be named after him.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ESPN: "That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible."
Leavitt did not answer further questions about the subject, but a senior source in the White House said: "It's what the president wants, and it will probably happen."
The report added: "A Commanders spokesperson declined comment [on] Saturday. However, a team source said the organization has spent days preparing for Trump's attendance at the Commanders' home game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon. Trump will attend the game as Harris' guest and is expected to participate in half-time activities honouring the military.
"The team source said that while the Commanders anticipate possible conversations with Trump about the new stadium during the game, there have been no formal conversations to date.
"The Commanders own the new stadium's naming rights, presumably to be sold to a corporate sponsor. But a source with first-hand knowledge of the process said that would be a separate decision from also commemorating an individual in the stadium name.
"That decision would likely rest with the District of Columbia Council, which will lease the stadium to the Commanders, and the National Park Service, which manages the federal government land on the old RFK Stadium site where the new stadium will be built in time for its scheduled opening in 2030."