Karoline Leavitt spoke to the press outside the White House on Monday and confirmed that President Trump wants the Washington Commanders to restore their former team name, the Redskins, and that he’s not afraid to block their return to RFK Stadium, the team’s former home.
President Trump on Sunday warned of “restrictions” on the Washington Commanders’ new stadium deal unless they change their name back to the Washington Redskins.
“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 President wrote 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.”
Trump Threatens to Block Washington Commanders Stadium Deal Unless They Change Name Back to Redskins
Previously, in April, President Trump called the name changes for the Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Indians, and the Washington Commanders, formerly the Redsking, “degrading” and “demeaning to Indians.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the President wasn’t kidding when he issued this threat, noting that “sports is one of the many passions of this President, and he wants to see the name of that team changed.”
When the reporter pushed Leavitt, implying that Trump is exceeding the scope of his duties, Leavitt said this President does things differently and he is doing this “on behalf of the American people,” especially sports fans, who want to take wokeness out of sports.
WATCH:
Reporter: Was the President serious or was he joking this weekend when he said he might block a Washington Commanders stadium deal if they don’t change their name?
Leavitt: The President was serious, and as part of the art of the deal, part of his negotiating skills, as you know, sports is one of the many passions of this President, and he wants to see the name of that team changed.
Reporter: Why is he getting involved in that? Why does he see that as part of his purview?
Leavitt: Look, I think you’ve seen, the President gets involved in a lot of things that most presidents have not. He’s a nontraditional president. He likes to see results on behalf of the American people, and if you actually poll this issue with sports fans across this country, and even in this city, people actually do support the President’s position on this and the name change.
