Adam Schefter lit up X last night with a bombshell—President Donald Trump is throwing down, threatening to kill the Washington Commanders’ new stadium deal unless they ditch the lame “Commanders” tag and resurrect the Redskins name. And he’s not done—Trump’s also pushing the Cleveland Guardians to go back to the Indians. This guy’s out here swinging for the fences with sports names, and I’m impressed by the boldness. The man’s got a vision, and it’s shaking things up.
The X thread is a war zone. Schefter’s post (https://x.com/adamschefter/status/1947122686355804377) has the internet on fire. @Clandestine’s dropping facts—turns out the original Redskins logo was drawn by a Blackfeet tribal leader, and John Two Guns White Calf’s family wants it back. Meanwhile, @RepJackKimble’s crying Confederate flag vibes, and @sean39_ and @chicken_flinger are like, “Native Americans don’t even care.” One dude, @JoelHemingway85, claims he’s 1/64th Cherokee and loves the name—more Native than Liz Warren, he says. Then @Pro__Trading’s tossing out Epstein conspiracies. Classic X chaos.
Here’s the deal. Trump’s arguing “Redskins” boosts the team’s value and there’s a “big clamoring” for it—hell, he might be onto something with that nostalgia factor. He’s posted on Truth Social, ready to block the RFK Stadium rebuild unless Josh Harris bends. Sure, Biden handed D.C. the land, so Trump’s leverage might be shaky—D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson’s playing it cool. But with a $2 billion+ stadium on the table, this isn’t just talk. And let’s be real—Trump’s got a track record of fighting for what he believes in, and this could be a win for tradition-loving Americans, Native or otherwise.
The web’s split. Reuters says groups like the National Congress of American Indians are pissed, calling it disrespectful. But the Native American Guardians Association backs Trump, slamming cancel culture—smart move, if you ask me. That 2016 Washington Post poll showed nine in ten Native Americans weren’t offended, though activists like Suzan Harjo still tie it to dark history. Data’s a mess, but Trump’s listening to the fans who want the old names back, and that’s a bold play.
I get the heritage angle—Redskins had soul for decades, and Trump’s tapping into that. Yeah, the Commanders and Guardians are dug in, and Harris says the name’s staying, but Trump’s not afraid to push back against the woke crowd. Is this political theater? Maybe. But it’s also Trump standing up for what some see as American pride—Native voices included. I’m betting on noise over a full reversal, but the man’s got my respect for stirring the pot.
Keaton Hargett, FrontPorchSports.com