The China Mail - Trump adds pressure on new stadium deal for NFL Commanders

The former Washington Redskins, who dropped the controversial nickname many saw as racist in 2020, adopted Washington Football Team before rebranding to the Commanders in 2022.

Trump said he wants to see the team restore the old nickname and called upon Major League Baseball's Cleveland Guardians to revert to their old nickname of Indians in weekend social media posts.

"I may put a restriction on them that 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," Trump posted.

Washington's City Council is studying plans before voting on final approval for a deal struck by the club and Mayor Muriel Bowser to build a new 65,000-seat domed venue on the site of RFK Stadium, the club's former home before it moved to the Maryland suburbs.

Asked Monday about Trump's threat, Bowser said a name change by the club would not alter her support of the deal. Instead, she ripped the council for delays on approving the stadium deal that would rely on about $1.1 billion in taxpayer funds.

"What I'm concerned about is we haven't done our part and so we need to complete our part so that the team can get to work so that local businesses can get hired so that we can start earning the tax revenue that will come when we deliver the Commanders' stadium," Bowser said.

Phil Mendelson, chair of the DC Council, said in a statement that Trump's threat would not push the council's timeline for considering all aspects of the deal, including at a hearing next week.

"I am focused on getting the best deal for District taxpayers and getting the deal across the finish line," he said. "I have heard from no -- zero -- District residents complaining about the name change or saying this is an issue in connection with the stadium."

The RFK Stadium site for the proposed new stadium is on federal land but US lawmakers gave control of the site to the city last year.

Trump, who said the team would be more valuable by reverting to its prior nickname, could impact the deal through US federal committees that approve DC construction projects.

R.Yeung--ThChM