Trump threatens to block new stadium if NFL side does not switch back to Redskins name

President Trump takes aim at Washington's NFL team

US President Donald Trump has threatened to block federal funding for a new NFL stadium in Washington if the team does not change its name. "They name their team the Redskins," Trump said in a tweet, "badly hurt the feelings of Native Americans. Suddenly, you hear it's disrespectful. No longer can you call Indians, Indians. Like the Washington Redskins, you are going to have to change the name of your team."

Team responds to criticism

The team has responded to the criticism, saying that they are "committed to engaging our community and doing everything we can to address and solve the problem". They have also clarified that they will not be changing the name of the team anytime soon, and that they have "a great deal of respect" for Native American communities.

Previous pressure to change the name

The team has faced pressure to change its name before. In the early 2000s, a group of Native Americans and their supporters protested against the name, leading to a legal battle that ended in a federal court ruling in favor of the team. More recently, in June 2020, amid widespread racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd, the team announced that it would "review" the name. However, they have yet to announce any changes.

Political implications

Trump's threat adds new political implications to the name debate. The team has previously received subsidies from the federal government for stadium construction, although it is not clear how Trump's proposal would be implemented.

Name controversy

The name 'Redskins' has been criticized by many as being a racial slur against Native Americans. The team has faced scrutiny for its name and logo, which many view as culturally inappropriate and offensive. The controversy has prompted discussions about the need for more diversity and sensitivity in the NFL and other professional sports.