Trump defends Native American names in Sports Teams

Trump: "Look, I think the Indian population is a big part of this country, with a great legacy. And we're talking about Massapequa, Long Island, where they call themselves the Chiefs. Well, the Kansas City Chiefs are not going to change their name. It's a great team, with great people, great owners, a great coach, and a great quarterback. I love the quarterback, I also like his girlfriend, and I like all the Chiefs.

Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with it. Many teams are called the Warriors, and not just that team, but many others with Indian surnames and various names. I think that's a positive thing. When you talk to people of indigenous heritage, many times they don't understand why those names are being removed. I think it’s degrading to the Indian population, which is a great population. They like it when those names are used.

Washington, the Redskins, maybe that's a little different. But I can tell you I spoke with people of Indian heritage who loved that name and that team. And I think it was a far superior name to what they have now. It had heritage, it had something special.

Many of these names are related to different places, not just the indigenous people. They changed the name of the Cleveland Indians. Why would you take the name "Indians" away from the Cleveland Indians? Now they're called the Cleveland Guardians, right?"

President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his opposition to changing the names of sports teams that reference Native American cultures, arguing that these names are symbols of strength and pride, and that removing them constitutes an excessive form of political correctness that erases cultural heritage.

Opinions on Professional Teams
In July 2020, Trump publicly criticized the Washington Redskins (NFL) and the Cleveland Indians (MLB) for considering name changes, stating that these teams were named "out of strength, not weakness," and that the changes were attempts to be "politically correct." In 2021, when the Cleveland Indians announced their name change to the Cleveland Guardians, Trump called the decision a "disgrace" and "a sign of disrespect" toward Native Americans, arguing that many indigenous people opposed the removal of these names.

Case of Massapequa, New York
In April 2025, Trump intervened in the debate over the "Chiefs" school team name in Massapequa, Long Island. The New York State Department of Education had ordered the removal of names and mascots with indigenous references, threatening to withhold funding from schools that did not comply. Trump defended the use of the "Chiefs" name, arguing that it honored native heritage and that its removal was an attempt to erase history. Following his intervention, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into whether the state's actions violated civil rights by discriminating against indigenous cultural representations.

Diverging Perspectives
While Trump and organizations like the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) argue that these names honor indigenous cultures, other native leaders and activists claim they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and amount to cultural appropriation. For example, the chief of the Unkechaug Nation criticized the use of native imagery by communities with a history of oppression toward indigenous peoples.

In summary, Trump believes that team names referencing indigenous cultures are symbols of respect and tradition, and that their removal is driven by a political correctness agenda that erases valuable aspects of American culture.