Trump Boldly States He Wouldn't Have Changed Redskins Name To Commanders Despite Controversy

If it were up to President Donald Trump, Washington’s shot squad would ne'er person changed its name. 

The NFL squad presently goes by nan Washington Commanders, but nan aged name, Redskins, is what Trump says he would’ve kept it arsenic if he owned nan organization. 

"Well, you want maine to make a arguable statement? I would," Trump said to reporters successful Morristown, New Jersey connected Sunday. "I wouldn’t person changed nan name. But that’s their — it conscionable doesn’t person nan aforesaid ringing to me."

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Washington Commanders controlling proprietor Josh Harris, from left, signs a helmet on pinch District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, aft an announcement astir a caller location for nan NFL shot squad connected nan tract of nan aged RFK Stadium, Monday, April 28, 2025, astatine nan National Press Club successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Commanders proprietor Josh Harris told Bret Baier on "Special Report" successful April that, contempt his scheme to bring nan squad backmost to Washington D.C. astatine nan tract of nan aged RFK Stadium, nan Redskins sanction wouldn’t beryllium coming back. 

"The Commanders’ sanction really has taken connected an astonishing benignant of constituent successful our building," Harris said. "So, nan group that definite types of players that are tough, that emotion football, are delegated Commanders, and Jayden [Daniels], for example, is simply a Commander, and they're ranked. 

"And, you know, nan business unit has gotten into it, and obviously, we're successful a subject metropolis here. There's much subject unit than anyplace else, truthful we're benignant of moving guardant pinch nan Commanders name, excited astir that, and not looking back."

JOE THEISMANN TALKS COMMANDERS POSSIBLY HONORING REDSKINS NAME, LOGO IN FUTURE

While he whitethorn not person changed nan name, Trump thinks immoderate squad that wins will instrumentality pinch fans nary matter what. That’s precisely what Washington did past season, reaching nan NFC Championship Game for nan first clip successful almost 3 decades nether caller backmost Jayden Daniels.

"But, you know, winning tin make everything sound good," Trump continued. "So, if they’re winning, each of a abrupt Commanders sounds good. But I wouldn’t person changed nan name."

In position of nan caller stadium, governmental disagreements person surrounded nan $3.8 cardinal project. Less than 2 months aft completing nan stadium deal, D.C. politician Muriel Bowser said that location were delays by nan D.C. Council to o.k. nan latest budget, per Front Office Sports. 

"If nan Council strips nan woody position aliases budgeted dollars from nan budget, it kills our statement pinch nan Commanders," Bowser said past period pinch a preliminary support of nan plans needing an statement connected July 15.

Prior to his sanction comment, Trump was asked by a newsman astir perchance stepping successful if nan woody remains shaky. 

Hall of Fame moving backmost John Riggins, from left, erstwhile Washington Commanders backmost Doug Williams and erstwhile coach Joe Gibbs shake hands District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, adjacent to Washington Commanders controlling proprietor Josh Harris, aft an announcement that a caller location for nan NFL shot squad will beryllium built connected nan tract of nan aged RFK Stadium, Monday, April 28, 2025, astatine nan National Press Club successful Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

"Well, we’ll spot what happens," he responded. "I’ve been looking astatine nan deal, and I don’t blasted them. It’s a very important portion of property, it’s a awesome portion of property. So, we’ll see. If I tin thief them out, I would. 

"Ultimately, we power that [land]. The national authorities yet controls it, truthful we’ll spot what happens. I saw nan plans, I saw nan stadium. The owner’s a very, very successful and very bully man. I cognize him a small bit. It would beryllium awesome for nan NFL to beryllium there. I tin show you that. If they want to discuss a small tough, that’s OK pinch me."

The logic down Washington changing its sanction to Commanders stems from nan wide critiques of Redskins being violative to Native Americans. 

The squad ended up abandoning nan sanction successful aftermath of nan George Floyd protests, calling itself nan "Washington Football Team" until a awesome rebrand to Commanders came successful 2022. 

There is still a ample contingent believing nan sanction and logo should return to nan historical franchise, including Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., who said he would show support for nan woody to bring a caller stadium to nan aged tract connected nan information nan squad and NFL would grant nan aged Redskins logo.

"The irony that they were canceling Native American civilization arsenic nan DEI activity went measurement excessively far," Daines said successful November 2024. "This is honoring a Blackfeet main who was calved successful Montana. He is highly esteemed. The Blackfeet people of Montana, their existent president and tribal assembly signed a missive successful beardown support to bring nan logo back. It honors Indian Country.

President Donald Trump speaks during nan American 250 kickoff arena connected July 3, 2025, astatine nan Iowa State Fairgrouds. (IMAGN)

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"We person bully discussions pinch nan NFL and pinch nan Commanders. There’s bully religion successful negotiations going guardant that’s going to let this logo to beryllium utilized again. Perhaps revenues going to a instauration that could thief Native Americans successful sports and truthful forth. We’re making bully progress, and based connected nan bully religion negotiations, I made a determination to support this measure yesterday successful nan committee."

Harris told Baier that he hopes building will commencement connected nan tract successful 2027, and opening time would person a target for 2030. 

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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