Donald Trump Calls on Commanders and Guardians Owners to Reverse Name Changes: 'Get it Done!'

President Donald Trump is demanding the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians revert to their old names, insisting that the changes are an attack on American heritage and tradition.

In a Truth Social post shared on Sunday (July 20), Trump wrote, “The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this.”

He continued, “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!!!”

The Guardians responded through their team president, Chris Antonetti.

“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,” he said, per The Athletic. “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.”

The Commanders did not provide comment to The Athletic.

Trump added additional comments on Truth Social, writing that he may place restrictions on the NFL team if it doesn't revert back to its former names.

“I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’” wrote Trump. “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 more exciting for everyone."

"Cleveland should do the same with the Cleveland Indians,” he continued. “The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn’t understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!”

Both teams began exploring name changes in 2020 following nationwide protests over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd.

The “Redskins” name, which is a slur against Indigenous people, had long been objected to by civil rights and Native groups.

Washington temporarily became the Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in February 2022.

Cleveland officially adopted the name Guardians in 2021, which was inspired by the Guardians of Traffic statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge near the stadium.

President Trump, who recently teased holding a UFC event at the White House, has frequently used sports as a platform for political statements.

He previously called for NFL players protesting during the national anthem to be fired and has criticized policies allowing transgender athletes to compete.