CLEVELAND (WJW) — “OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”
Donald Trump concluded a forceful social media comment on Sunday by urging the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians and the NFL’s Washington Commanders to return to their previous team names.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY revert to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a significant demand for this change. Similarly, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six founding baseball teams with a rich history,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “Our esteemed Native American community, in vast numbers, desires this. Their cultural heritage and honor are being progressively eroded. The present times are not like they were a few years ago. We are a nation driven by passion and common sense. OWNERS, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!”
Amid longstanding criticism about the use of Native American names and imagery at various educational and professional levels across the country, Cleveland’s owner Paul Dolan announced in July 2021 that the team would now be known as the Guardians. The team had already retired “Chief Wahoo” as its primary emblem in 2018.
“In searching for a new brand, we sought a name that strongly reflects the pride, resiliency and loyalty of Clevelanders. Guardians embodies those defining attributes,” Dolan said at the time. “It brings to life the pride Clevelanders take in their city and for each other while defending our Cleveland baseball family.”
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti indicated before Sunday’s game against the Athletics that there weren’t any plans to revisit the name change.
“We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago but obviously it’s a decision we made. We’ve got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that’s in front of us,” he said.
Nexstar’s WJW reached out to the Guardians for reaction to the president’s words. A spokesperson for the organization said they had no comment at the time.
Before the start of the 2020 NFL season, Washington changed its name from the Redskins to the Washington Football Team before eventually becoming the Commanders.
Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to say. Not long after taking over, Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen.
The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of national discussions about institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
