The NFL club Washington Commanders and the baseball club Cleveland Guardians have ended up in Donald Trump's line of fire. On his Truth Social, the president writes that Washington should take back its "Redskins" and claims that "there are loud demands for this" and follows up by saying that Cleveland should again be called "Indians".
The two major clubs have had their current names since the 2022 season, and changed the names in the wake of a national debate about racism and that the names were considered offensive by many natives.
"Enormous crowds"
Trump claims, on the other hand, that there is great pressure to change back:
"Our great Indian people, in enormous crowds, want this to happen. Their heritage and dignity are being systematically taken away from them", he writes.
In Washington's case, the president threatens to stop the plans for a large arena in Washington DC, even if it is unclear if he has the power to do so. The club has not commented on Trump's outburst, but has previously signaled that the new name is here to stay.
"Nothing I follow"
Cleveland's chairman Chris Antonetti says, on his part, that the club is looking forward instead of pondering old nicknames.
This is nothing that I follow or pay particular attention to, but in general I can say that I understand that there are very many different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, he says according to The Athletic.
