Donald Trump recently expressed his desire for the NFL’s Washington Commanders and MLB’s Cleveland Guardians to revert to their former names, which had been changed due to their perceived racial insensitivity towards Native Americans. In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged, “The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back,” citing what he claims is a significant desire from Native American communities to restore their heritage.
Further escalating the situation, Trump threatened to obstruct the Commanders’ proposed plans for a new stadium at the historic RFK Stadium site unless they reconsider their name. The legality of such an action is uncertain, especially since control of the RFK site was recently transferred from federal to city government by a bill signed by Joe Biden.
For the Cleveland Guardians, Trump highlighted their history, mistakenly referring to them as one of the “original baseball teams,” a term that derives from ice hockey rather than baseball. The franchise had a rich but tumultuous history of name changes, previously known as the Indians until the switch to Guardians in 2021 amid similar criticisms regarding cultural sensitivity and the use of the “Chief Wahoo” mascot.
Post-name changes, the Commanders were initially called the Washington Football Team before their official rebranding in 2022, while the Guardians transitioned to their current name to honor local heritage. Notably, under its new ownership, the Commanders have indicated there will be no changes to the team’s name, as confirmed by billionaire owner Josh Harris. Similarly, the Guardians’ president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, remarked on their commitment to establishing their brand as the Guardians and seems to support their current name.
As debates surrounding team names and cultural representation continue, the actions of both teams illustrate a broader shift toward sensitivity regarding sports branding. Enhancing understanding and respect for diverse cultures could be a constructive outcome of these discussions.