Executive Summary
- The White House has publicly endorsed naming the planned Washington Commanders stadium in D.C. after President Trump, calling it “beautiful” and crediting him with making the new stadium possible.
- President Trump reportedly expressed interest in having the new stadium bear his name, following backchannel discussions.
- The Washington Commanders are moving forward with plans to build a new stadium at the former RFK Stadium site in Washington, D.C., with the D.C. Council having approved the deal.
The Story So Far
- The Washington Commanders are planning a new stadium in D.C. at the former RFK Stadium site, a move recently approved by the D.C. Council, following the team’s planned return to the city. This initiative has drawn interest from President Trump, who previously threatened to obstruct the team’s return if they did not revert to their former name. The White House has now publicly endorsed naming the new facility after President Trump, citing his alleged role in making the stadium’s rebuilding possible.
Why This Matters
- The White House’s public endorsement of naming the new Washington Commanders stadium after President Trump injects a significant political dimension into the project, potentially influencing future naming discussions and public perception, especially given Trump’s prior attempts to leverage the stadium’s return to D.C. on the team reverting to its controversial former name.
Who Thinks What?
- The White House indicated that naming the planned Washington Commanders stadium in D.C. after President Donald Trump would be “beautiful,” attributing the stadium’s rebuilding to him.
- Donald Trump reportedly expressed interest in having the new facility designated with his name.
- The Washington Commanders and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office have not commented on the possibility of the stadium bearing Trump’s name.
The White House has indicated that naming the planned Washington Commanders stadium in the nation’s capital after President Donald Trump would be “beautiful.” This statement follows an ESPN report detailing backchannel discussions where Trump reportedly expressed interest in such a designation for the new facility.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed this sentiment to CNN, stating, “That would surely be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible.” The Washington Commanders did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the matter.
Stadium Relocation and Approval
The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, a venue they have occupied since 1997. Previously, the franchise played in Washington, D.C., at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, known as RFK Stadium, from 1961 to 1996.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced an agreement in April to bring the Commanders back to the site of the former RFK Stadium. The D.C. Council subsequently approved this deal in September, advancing the team’s return to the district.
Trump’s Prior Involvement
President Trump had previously threatened to obstruct efforts to bring the team back to Washington if the franchise did not revert to its former “Redskins” name. The team officially dropped the “Redskins” name in 2020 following decades of criticism from Native American groups who deemed it an ethnic slur.
Josh Harris, who leads the Commanders’ ownership group, has stated that the team is targeting a 2030 opening date for the new stadium. Mayor Bowser’s office declined to comment on the possibility of the stadium bearing Trump’s name.
Presidential Engagement with Sports
Trump is expected to attend the Commanders’ game against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. His attendance at sporting events has been a consistent feature of his second term in office.
This year alone, Trump has been present at various high-profile athletic competitions, including an Ultimate Fighting Championship event, the annual Army-Navy college football game, the Ryder Cup golf tournament, and the US Open men’s tennis final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Key Takeaways
The White House has publicly endorsed the idea of naming the Washington Commanders’ future D.C. stadium after President Trump, citing his alleged role in facilitating the project. This development comes as the team moves forward with plans for a new facility at the former RFK Stadium site, a process that Trump previously influenced with demands regarding the team’s name.
