Two major Native American organizations have condemned President Donald Trump’s push to restore the Washington Commanders’ former name, the “Redskins.” Trump, in a Sunday post on Truth Social, said there’s strong public support for the name’s return and claimed “our great Indian people” want it reinstated. He also encouraged MLB’s Cleveland Guardians to revert to their previous name, the Indians.
The Association on American Indian Affairs strongly rejected Trump’s comments, stating that such names “reduce us to caricatures” and fail to honor Native peoples. “We are not relics or mascots,” the group emphasized, calling for respect and accurate representation of Native cultures. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) also condemned the proposal, calling it “an affront to Tribal sovereignty” and labeling racist mascots as unacceptable in modern society.
The Washington NFL team retired the Redskins name and logo in 2020 after decades of criticism that it was a racial slur. The team, now known as the Commanders, plans to return to Washington, D.C., with a new stadium in 2030, after playing in Landover, Maryland, since 1997.
Though Trump lacks direct authority to block the stadium’s construction, Congress—controlled by Republicans—could theoretically intervene. However, such action is rare. The White House, NFL, and Commanders declined to comment.
While most Native groups oppose a return to the old name, the Native American Guardians Association voiced support for Trump’s position, accusing critics of pushing cancel culture.
The Commanders are one of the NFL’s top franchises, valued at $6.3 billion by Forbes. Meanwhile, teams like the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Blackhawks, and Kansas City Chiefs have no plans to change their Native American-themed names, despite ongoing debate.