Trump Praised by Native American Group for Defending Washington NFL Team’s Former Name [WATCH]

Former President Donald Trump has once again sparked national attention—this time earning the praise of a prominent Native American advocacy organization for his recent remarks regarding the Washington NFL team’s controversial name change.

During an appearance on Sunday, Trump shared his thoughts on the Washington Commanders’ name, suggesting that the team never should have abandoned its original moniker.

While he did not mention the former name directly, his position was unmistakably clear.

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Trump said, if it were up to him, Washington’s football team would not be called the “Commanders,” asserting that the new name lacks the weight and cultural resonance of its predecessor.

“It doesn’t have the same ring,” Trump said of the “Commanders” title, expressing his desire to see the team revert to its old name—a name that has long been the subject of national debate.

Trump’s comments were quickly met with enthusiastic support from the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), a nonprofit group that advocates for the accurate representation and recognition of Native American culture and heritage in sports and public life.

“History doesn’t fade. It fuels the future.” Nice play on words. It fuels the FIRE 🔥”

“Organizations who have had a proud Native theme, only to have it callously taken away, are left with a wound that NEVER heals. Communities fall victim to self-hate and conflict.”

After… pic.twitter.com/dTXeDAbCYa

— Native American Guardians Association (@GuardiansNative) July 9, 2025

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Speaking with TMZ Sports earlier this week, NAGA Vice President Frank Black Cloud praised Trump’s stance, saying it affirms what Native voices have been saying for years.

“President Trump’s comments validate what Indian Country has been saying for years,” Black Cloud said. “The old name was never a slur, but a symbol of strength, honor, and pride for American Indian people.”

Rooted in greatness pic.twitter.com/ryphqKgq9p

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 10, 2025

NAGA has long maintained that the former team name was not derogatory, but rather a tribute rooted in respect and historical acknowledgment.

The organization, which includes Native American leaders, elders, and historians, has publicly opposed the 2020 decision by Washington’s NFL franchise to retire the name after decades of mounting pressure from political and corporate entities.

In his statement, Black Cloud emphasized that Trump is aligning himself not just with tradition, but with a deeper historical truth.

“President Trump is standing with history, with truth, and with American Indian voices that have been silenced for far too long,” he said.

The former president’s comments strike a chord with many in Indian Country who feel that modern social and political movements have sidelined authentic Native perspectives in favor of sanitized narratives.

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4x Pro Bowler
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Happy birthday @JoeJacoby66HOG! 🐷 pic.twitter.com/uEQ1zq8Pbp

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 6, 2025

For NAGA and others who share this viewpoint, Trump’s willingness to speak publicly on the matter is both rare and commendable.

“This is not about nostalgia—it’s about justice,” Black Cloud added, underlining the broader cultural and political implications of the debate.

Despite the renewed attention and support from Trump and Native American voices, it appears unlikely that Washington’s football team will reconsider its rebranding.

Sources told TMZ Sports on Monday that the organization has no plans to revisit the name change, which was implemented amid a wave of corporate and social pressure in 2020 following nationwide protests and activism related to racial equity.

Still, the conversation around the name continues to be a lightning rod, particularly among fans, Native American leaders, and political figures who believe the issue is far from resolved.

For Trump, the matter is yet another example of what he sees as excessive political correctness encroaching on American tradition and heritage.

His comments may play well with a portion of his political base, but for organizations like NAGA, they also represent a rare moment of political alignment in the pursuit of cultural truth.

NAGA has been consistent in its advocacy for Native representation in American sports, arguing that the removal of names and mascots often erases Native history rather than honoring it.

The White Calf Family sends our Full Support to Long Island, New York Massapequa School District and @GuardiansNative NAGA for Continuing this fight for our imagery, Heritage & Education. As our family continues to fight for recognition.#Native #NAGA #Blackfeet #TwoGuns… https://t.co/q4lV4uElRe pic.twitter.com/WLAoGcW45Q

— Chris White Calf (@OpsEliteN8vKick) May 31, 2025

The group has previously led campaigns and filed legal challenges to preserve Native-related names in schools and professional teams across the country.

As the debate over cultural representation in sports continues, Trump’s recent remarks have reinvigorated voices like NAGA’s, who feel sidelined in the mainstream media’s portrayal of Native sentiment.

Whether or not the Washington NFL team reconsiders its position, the renewed discussion may prompt a broader reckoning about who gets to define offense, representation, and honor in American culture.

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