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President Donald Trump publicly demanded that the National Football League's Washington Commanders and Major League Baseball's Cleveland Guardians change back to their previous names in a post shared on his Truth Social account Sunday (July 20).
Both franchises changed their previous Native American-inspired names in recent years, with the Commanders changing from 'Redskins' to the temporary 'Washington Football Team' in 2020 and their permanent moniker in 2022, while the Guardians switching from 'Indians' after the 2021 MLB season.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this,” Trump wrote.
“Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past,” he continued. “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 Commanders made the decision to rebrand in 2020 after years of public pressure with critics deeming the prior name as offensive. The Guardians announced their decision to change their team name after previously dropping their 'Chief Wahoo' logo years prior.