Trump Should Kill Commanders Stadium Deal, but Not Because of the Team’s Name

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump weighed in on an issue somewhat outside his purview as commander in chief: the name of his local professional football team.

In social media posts, Trump threatened to terminate a deal for a new stadium unless the NFL franchise in the Washington, D.C., area changed its name back to the one he prefers. Ironically, if he did scuttle the stadium deal, Trump would be doing the right thing, but in perhaps the most corrupt way possible.

“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this,” the president posted on Truth Social on Sunday. “Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them.”

“My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way,” he added hours later. “I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington. The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be more exciting for everyone.”

In July 2020, the Washington Redskins football team announced that it would change its name. The name had been a source of controversy for years, often seen as a racial slur against Native Americans—though even that claim was itself a point of contention. A 2016 poll in The Washington Post found that 90 percent of Native Americans did not find the name offensive, though a survey in 2020 published in Social Psychological and Personality Science found that while about half of Native Americans were offended by the name, it rose to 67 percent among those most heavily engaged with their heritage and tribal custom.

There is even a Wikipedia page dedicated to “Washington Redskins name opinion polls.”

The team revealed its new name, the Commanders, in 2022. At that time, Cleveland’s baseball team—which for more than a century had been known as the Indians, and whose longtime mascot was the offensively crimson caricature Chief Wahoo—had recently renamed itself the Guardians.

“They name teams out of STRENGTH, not weakness,” Trump complained in 2020, “but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like they are going to be changing their names in order to be politically correct.”

Admittedly, “Commanders” and “Guardians” aren’t exactly inspired choices—personally, I prefer the time in between when the Com

Read More

Article from Reason.com

Reason Magazine

The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.