Trump slams ‘Washington Whatever’s,’ calls for return of Redskins and Indians names

In 2020, Washington’s National Football League team changed its name from the Redskins to just “Washington Football Team”. In 2021, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team followed suit, changing their name from the Indians to the Guardians. One year later, Washington’s NFL team became the Commanders.

But it’s 2025 now, and Donald Trump is president, which if he has it his way, will mean we’re going back in time and further away from cultural sensitivity rather than progressing forward.

“Get it done!” - Trump reignites debate over offensive team names

On Sunday, Trump called on NFL and MLB team owners to reverse past name changes and restore the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians team names, criticizing what he called “political correctness.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed there’s “a big clamoring” to bring back the original names and said Native American heritage is being “systematically taken away.” He referred to the Commanders dismissively as the “Washington Whatever’s” and told team owners to “GET IT DONE!”

“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this,” Trump declared, unprompted on Truth Social Sunday.

“Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past,” the president went on. “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!!!”

Trump even went so far as to threaten to block the new stadium deal for Washington unless they change their name back to Redskins.

When the teams originally rebranded, it was due to concerns that the Native American-inspired names they had before were offensive. And despite Trump’s urging of a reversal, both teams have stood by their new names, and current owners have expressed no interest in reverting.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.