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In a recent development, President Donald Trump has garnered support from Scott Turner, the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), regarding the ongoing debate over the Washington Commanders’ nickname. Turner, a former NFL defensive back who played for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2003, expressed his thoughts on social media.
In a post on X, Turner stated, “I played in the NFL and was drafted by the Washington Redskins. Not the ‘Washington Football Team’ or the ‘Commanders.’ @POTUS is right. It’s time to bring the Redskins’ name back.” Turner was selected by the Redskins in the seventh round of the 1995 NFL Draft and contributed significantly during his three seasons with the team, recording 106 tackles and five interceptions.
On Sunday, Trump took to Truth Social to voice his opinion, urging the Commanders and the Cleveland Guardians to revert to their original names. He wrote, “The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this.” He added, “Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige are systematically being taken away from them.”
Trump didn’t stop there; he hinted at potential repercussions for the Commanders if they didn’t reconsider their name change. He suggested that he might jeopardize a deal for the team to develop the old RFK Stadium site, stating, “If they don’t change the name back… I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington.”
The name change saga began in 2020 when Daniel Snyder, the then-owner of the team, decided to move away from the Redskins name amid a nationwide conversation on racial sensitivity. The franchise eventually adopted the name Washington Commanders, and ownership has since passed to Josh Harris.
In an April interview with Fox News Channel’s "Special Report," Harris firmly stated that the team has no plans to revert to the Redskins name. “The Commanders’ name has actually taken on an amazing kind of element in our building,” he said, emphasizing the positive reception among players and staff. He highlighted that the Commanders’ name resonates well in a military city like Washington, D.C., where military personnel are abundant.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
