Trump Calls on Guardians and Commanders to Revert to Their Original Names

CLEVELAND (WJW) — “OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”

That’s how President Donald Trump ended a strongly worded social media post Sunday in which he encouraged the MLB’s Cleveland Guardians and the NFL’s Washington Commanders to revert to their organizations’ former nicknames.

“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “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!!!”

Following longtime criticism of the use of Native American names and imagery on the high school, college and professional level nationwide, Cleveland owner Paul Dolan announced in July of 2021 that the team would become the Guardians. The team had already phased out “Chief Wahoo” as its primary logo 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.