Commanders, Guardians name changes were years in the making: Timeline of key events
Trump said in a social media post on July 20 that the Guardians and the Commanders, each playing their fourth season under their new names in 2025, should revert back to their old names.
"The Washington 'Whatever's' should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team. There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen," Trump's post on Truth Social said.
"Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!" Trump concluded.
Later Sunday afternoon, July 20, Trump threatened to restrict the Commanders from building on the old RFK Stadium site if the franchise doesn't change its name.
"I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington (name),' 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.
The president's most recent comments come after he previously said on social media in October 2013 that the president should not be telling the Redskins to change their name, because our country has "far bigger problems."
Here's a timeline of each franchise's name changes.
Timeline of Washington Commanders name change
Here's a timeline of key events in the evolution of the Washington Redskins to the Washington Commanders.
Timeline of Cleveland Guardians name change
Here's a timeline of key events in the evolution of the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians.
In a meeting with reporters Sunday, July 20, Guardians' president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that he was unaware of Trump's statements prior to the meeting and that changing the name back to the "Indians" was "not something [he has been] tracking or [has] been paying a lot of attention to."
"We've gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future," said Antonetti.
Antonetti did not provide any indication that the team plans on reverting to its former name.
Contributing: Jon Hoefling, Nate Davis & Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US Attorney General Pam Bondi has medical issue amid Epstein files scrutiny
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, citing a medical issue, abruptly canceled her appearance at an anti-trafficking event amid public outcry over her handling of the Epstein files and renewed scrutiny over President Donald Trump's relationship with the disgraced financier. Bondi was expected to speak at CPAC's Summit Against Human Trafficking on Wednesday before acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti took to the stage to reveal she could no longer attend. 'I do have a note from the attorney general, from Attorney General Pam Bondi, that I wanted to share,' he told attendees before reading her statement. 'I'm sorry to miss all of my CPAC friends today,' Bondi's statement said. 'Unfortunately, I am recovering from a recently torn cornea, which is preventing me from being with you. I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue.' The announcement came some 90 minutes before The Wall Street Journal published a report, alleging Bondi informed Trump during a sit-down in back May that his name repeatedly appeared in the Epstein files. That means their meeting occurred just weeks before the Justice Department released a memo declaring that, after a lengthy review of all evidence available, there is 'no incriminating client list' or proof Epstein blackmailed prominent people as part of his alleged actions. It further noted that no more files related to the case — other than a video meant to prove that Epstein died by suicide — would be made public. The subsequent backlash was fierce, with critics calling for Bondi's head. Trump has, meanwhile, repeatedly come to his attorney general's defense while trying to quell his angry base. Many of them have pointed out the president's past vows to make public the Epstein files, and his recent hesitation to do so, has sparked questions about his involvement with the financier. Further fueling the fire, The Wall Street Journal also recently published a report on a collection of letters gifted to Epstein, one of them allegedly penned by Trump. The note, contained in a bound collection given to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, apparently included a drawing of a naked woman with his signature written across her pelvis in a way that appeared to mimic pubic hair. 'A pal is a wonderful thing,' Trump wrote to Epstein, per the WSJ. 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump denied writing the birthday note and has since sued the Journal over its report. White House communications director Steven Cheung on Wednesday also denied the Journal's latest bombshell in a statement to Newsweek. 'The fact is that the President kicked him out of his (Mar-a-Lago) club for being a creep,' Cheung said in the statement. 'This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about.' _____
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Starmer raises case of Briton detained in India during meeting with Modi
Sir Keir Starmer is believed to have raised the case of a British man detained in India for years, with the country's prime minister. Prime Minister Sir Keir met Narendra Modi on Thursday as the two countries signed a trade deal It is understood that Sir Keir raised the case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist from Dumbarton near Glasgow, who was arrested while in India for his wedding in 2017. Mr Johal's brother Gurpreet had suggested the meeting was a 'golden' chance for the UK Government to seek to secure his release. Thankful to PM Keir Starmer for the warm welcome at Chequers. Our discussions reflect a shared commitment to deepen India-UK ties across sectors.@Keir_Starmer — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2025 Mr Johan is being held in custody by the Indian authorities, despite having been cleared of one of the cases against him earlier this year. He still faces charges at a federal level, which his supporters, who claim an initial confession he made was as a result of torture, fear could take years to come to a conclusion. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the issue was 'complex' but the Government was working to resolve it. 'The Government are doing all we possibly can to get this resolved,' he said. 'There was a recent meeting, just at the start of June, between the Foreign Secretary and his counterpart in India to try and get these issues resolved. 'So it's right at the top of the agenda and we can assure and reassure that we're doing everything we possibly can to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible.' Gurpreet Singh Johal, a Labour councillor in West Dunbartonshire, had earlier told BBC Radio Scotland: 'Raising the case is not enough, it's what we've been saying since day one. 'There's a golden opportunity here for the Prime Minister now, prior to the deal being signed or as the deal is being signed, that he strongly calls for Jagtar to be returned to his family so he can continue his married life.' Mr Murray said: 'The call is for these issues to be resolved and we're all fully on the same page in terms of having to get them resolved as quickly as possible.'
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
King Charles Gives a Rare Look Inside the Royal Residence Where the Family Celebrates Christmas
King Charles just gave a rare look inside one of the royal family's most beloved residences. On Thursday, July 24, the King hosted President Maia Sandu of Moldova and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at his Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, located about 100 miles north of London. The leaders shook hands for photos in the saloon, Sandringham House's main reception room. A fireplace is seen in the background along with large plants placed throughout the room, which receives plenty of natural light thanks to large windows. 🇲🇩 The President of the Republic of Moldova visited The King this morning at Sandringham House. — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 24, 2025 The King was given a tree to be planted this autumn, inspired by the environmental initiative launched by the Indian Prime Minister, which encourages people to plant a tree in tribute to their mothers. Sandringham is a beloved estate for the royal family and where they typically spend Christmas and New Year's. The tradition was started by the late Queen Elizabeth in 1988, meaning all of her grandchildren grew up holidaying in Norfolk. However, the house's holiday significance dates back even earlier than that. Sandringham House was where the late monarch delivered her first-ever televised Christmas message in 1957. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! This afternoon, The King received the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, @NarendraModi, at Sandringham House. 🇮🇳During their time together, His Majesty was given a tree to be planted this Autumn, inspired by the environmental initiative launched by the Prime Minister, 'Ek… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 24, 2025 These days, the family's holiday traditions are being passed on to a new generation. On Christmas Eve, they gather for a formal, black-tie dinner and to exchange gifts. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Prince Harry recalled how the royal gift exchange might differ from the average family. 'We were at Sandringham in a big room with a long table covered with white cloth and white name cards. By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place, stood before our mound of presents," he wrote. "Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper.' On Christmas morning, the family walks together to St. Mary Magdalene Church, a 16th-century parish located on the Sandringham Estate, greeting locals, fans and members of the press along the way. After the service, they walk back to Sandringham House to enjoy the day together. While the holiday gathering this year will almost certainly include King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — some members of the royal family have split off from the celebration in recent years. Last Christmas, for example, both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie spent the holidays with their in-laws. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle haven't taken part in Christmas with the royal family since 2018, the year they married. Amid the couple's rift with the royals and Harry's recent declaration that he "can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K.," their children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 — have never experienced the holidays at Sandringham. In a few weeks, King Charles and the royal family will likely gather in Scotland at the Balmoral estate, where they traditionally spend time each summer. Read the original article on People
