Latest news with #MattDolan
21-07-2025
- Politics
Trump demands Washington Commanders reverse name change, threatens he will not facilitate deal for new stadium
President Donald Trump has threatened the Washington Commanders football team, stating he will not facilitate a deal for the team's new stadium to be built in Washington, D.C., if it does not revert to its former name. "My statement on the Washington Reskins has totally blown up, but only in a ver positive way. 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," Trump wrote on his social media platform on Sunday. In another post on Sunday, Trump called on the Commanders to "immediately" change their name. "Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago," Trump wrote on his social media platform. ABC News has reached out to the Commanders for comment on Trump's demands. Trump also said that the Cleveland Guardians baseball team should switch back to its old name, too, and called out Ohio Senate candidate Matt Dolan, who owns the team, claiming that he lost several elections because of the name change. "The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!," Trump wrote on Sunday. The Cleveland Guardians' president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, said in a statement on Sunday that there have not been any plans to change the team's name, according to The Associated Press. "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," Antonetti said. The Guardians didn't have any additional comment when asked by ABC News. With the Commanders, Josh Harris, the managing partner for the team, said earlier this year that the team would not be changing its name, according to The Associated Press. The Washington Commanders dropped its former name in July 2020 after years of complaints over its racist connotations toward Native Americans. The team adopted the generic "Washington Football Team" two weeks later, though it was only supposed to be in place for the 2020-21 season. Then in 2022, the team revealed it's new name would be the Washington Commanders. A 2020 study from the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley found that at least half of more than 1,000 Native Americans surveyed were offended by Commanders' previous team name, according to UC Berkeley's website. The practice of using Native American mascots is controversial and many tribal leaders say it is dehumanizing and perpetuates stereotypes. In 2024, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill with unanimous consent that would allow the federal government to lease more than 170 acres of land at the site where the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is currently located, which would allow for the possibility of a new stadium to be built. The team currently plays at the Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The bill transfers the jurisdiction of the stadium site from the federal government to local D.C. authorities. "We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington, D.C. the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK stadium site. This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans," Harris said in a statement on Dec. 21, 2024.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Guardians respond to Trump's call to restore former name
The Cleveland Guardians have no intention of reverting to their former 'Indians' name, despite passionate calls from Donald Trump on Sunday to do just that. Trump fired out messages on Truth Social aimed at the Guardians and Washington Commanders, threatening to block to NFL team's stadium move if they didn't return to their old 'Redskins' name. But despite the President's demands, the baseball side will apparently be staying with their new name. 'I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago,' Guardians president Chris Antonetti said in a statement. 'But it's a decision we've made and we've gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we're excited about the future that's in front of us.' Cleveland announced in December 2020 that the team would drop its 'Indians' nickname, announcing the switch to 'Guardians' the following year. The comments from Antonetti risk upsetting the President, given the passion with which he outlined his case. 'The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. Matt Dolan is actually no longer involved in the running of the Guardians franchise but was twice a candidate in the Ohio Senate elections in 2022 and 2024, losing on both occasions. After venting about the NFL team in DC, Trump had earlier said of the baseball team: 'Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. 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!' But while the Guardians are resisting the calls from Trump, he might have more leverage over the Washington Commanders. In a later post Sunday, Trump said he may veto their stadium move back towards DC if the organization wants to continue with their present name. 'My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way,' Trump wrote.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Cleveland Guardians risk Donald Trump fury with response to his call to return to 'Indians' name
The Cleveland Guardians have no intention of reverting to their former 'Indians' name, despite passionate calls from Donald Trump on Sunday to do just that. Trump fired out messages on truth social aimed at the Guardians and Washington Commanders, threatening to block to NFL team's stadium move if they didn't return to their old 'Redskins' name. But despite the President's demands, the baseball side will apparently be staying with their new name. 'I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago,' Guardians president Chris Antonetti said in a statement. 'But it's a decision we've made and we've gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we're excited about the future that's in front of us.' Cleveland announced in December 2020 that the team would drop its 'Indians' nickname, announcing the switch to 'Guardians' the following year. The comments from Antonetti risk upsetting the President, given the passion with which he outlined his case. 'The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!' Matt Dolan is actually no longer involved in the running of the Guardians franchise but was was twice a candidate in the Ohio Senate elections in 2022 and 2024, losing on both occasions. After venting about the NFL team in DC, Trump had earlier said of the baseball team: 'Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. 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!'
Times
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Trump tells Washington NFL team to revert to ‘Redskins' name
President Trump has said Washington's American football team should revert to its original name of the 'Washington Redskins'. The US president said sports teams that had changed names to avoid offending Native Americans in recent years should readopt their former branding. He said there was 'a big clamouring for this'. 'The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team,' he wrote on Truth Social. Later, Trump threatened to block the Commanders' application to build a new stadium in Washington and said his campaign was called Miga, or Make Indians Great Again. '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,' he wrote in a second post on Truth Social. 'The Team would be much more valuable, and the Deal would be more exciting for everyone. Cleveland should do the same with the Cleveland Indians. The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!' The Washington Commanders changed their name during the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd in 2020 when sports teams came under pressure from sponsors to ditch culturally insensitive names and logos. For two years, the NFL team, which last won a Super Bowl in 1992, went without a name before they were rebranded the 'Commanders' in 2022. The team has replaced its logo, which previously showed the head of a native American wearing feathers, with a large 'W'. While some teams have changed their names because of protests from fans, including the Cleveland Indians — a baseball team that became the Cleveland Guardians — others have refused to bow to pressure. The Kansas City Chiefs, one of the most successful NFL teams in recent years whose players include Travis Kelce, boyfriend of Taylor Swift, have rejected demands from Native American groups to change their name. The Chiefs' fans often perform a 'tomahawk chop', waving their arms to mimic a Native American warrior. But fans were banned from attending games daubed in face paint and wearing headdresses in 2020. After a former Washington Commanders player called on his old team to return to its original name, Trump endorsed his campaign and urged other owners of sports teams to follow suit. 'Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen,' he wrote. '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!!!'
Fox News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump floats 'restriction' for Commanders if they fail to ditch nickname in favor of Redskins return
President Donald Trump threatened to hang the Washington Commanders' plans to build a new stadium in D.C. in the balance if the team didn't revert back to the Redskins moniker. Trump put the pressure on the Commanders, and the Cleveland Guardians, on Sunday – calling both organizations out in two posts made on Truth Social. "My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way," Trump wrote in a second Truth Social post. "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." The president added that the Guardians should follow suit. "Cleveland should do the same with the Cleveland Indians. The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change," Trump added. "What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!" Paul Dolan is the team owner. Matt Dolan holds a minority stake in the organization. Fox News Digital reached out to the Commanders for comment. Trump made the original demand for the teams to change their names earlier on Sunday. "The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. "Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. "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!!!" Guardians president Chris Antonetti responded to Trump's pressure in the middle of the afternoon. He said it wasn't actually something the organization had on its mind. "But I would say generally, I understand that there are very different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago," he said, via "Obviously it's a decision we've made and we've gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future." The Guardians had no additional comment on Trump's posts. Commanders team owner Josh Harris joined Trump, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the Oval Office when the deal for the RFK Stadium site was announced. Congressional lawmakers supported Harris going back to the old stadium site on the condition that the team and NFL would honor the old Redskins logo. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in November he would support the organization going forward with its plan after "good faith negotiations" with both entities. "We were calling out leaders in case of really, woke gone wrong," Daines said at the time. "The irony that they were canceling Native American culture as the DEI movement went way too far. This is honoring a Blackfeet chief who was born in Montana. He is highly esteemed. The Blackfeet tribe of Montana, their current chairman and tribal council signed a letter in strong support to bring the logo back. It honors Indian Country. "We have good discussions with the NFL and with the Commanders. There's good faith in negotiations going forward that's going to allow this logo to be used again. Perhaps revenues going to a foundation that could help Native Americans in sports and so forth. We're making good progress and, based on the good faith negotiations, I made a decision to support this bill yesterday in the committee." But Harris made clear in an interview on Fox News Channel's "Special Report" that there were no plans to bring back the Redskins name. "The Commanders' name actually has taken on an amazing kind of element in our building," Harris responded to Bret Baier's question about the Redskins name coming back as part of this new stadium deal. "So, the people that certain types of players that are tough, that love football, are delegated Commanders and Jayden [Daniels], for example, is a Commander, and they're ranked. "And, you know, the business staff has gotten into it, and obviously, we're in a military city here. There's more military personnel than anywhere else, so we're kind of moving forward with the Commanders name, excited about that, and not looking back." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
