President Trump isn’t a stranger to professional football. The former owner of the USFL’s New Jersey Generals said Sunday he would help the Washington Commanders negotiate a new stadium deal, though he criticized the franchise’s name.
The District’s NFL team was known as the “Redskins” until 2020, when former owner Dan Snyder agreed to change the name following widespread accusations of racism. The new name, though initially ridiculed, has slowly grown on fans since Mr. Snyder sold the team in 2023.
“I wouldn’t have changed the name,” Mr. Trump told reporters on Sunday. “It doesn’t have the same ring to me.”
The Commanders experienced a resurgence last season, the first under general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels led the franchise to its first NFC championship game appearance in more than 30 years.
Recent polls have started to reflect more positive sentiments toward the name.
“Winning can make everything sound good,” the president said. “If they win, all of a sudden the Commanders sound good. But I wouldn’t have changed the name.”
The Republican also offered a helping hand in the franchise’s ongoing negotiations to land a new home at the site of RFK Stadium in the District. The franchise reached an agreement with Mayor Muriel Bowser, but is still waiting on approval from the D.C. Council.
“If I can help them out, I will,” Mr. Trump said. “The federal government ultimately controls [the property]. I saw the plans, I saw the stadium. … It will be a great place for the NFL to be there, so if they want to negotiate a little tough, that’s okay with me.”
Public hearings on the stadium deal are expected in late July. Commanders’ representatives have said they would like to open the stadium by 2030 to compete for big-ticket events like the Super Bowl, Wrestlemania and the 2031 Women’s World Cup.
