President Donald Trump took to Twitter Monday, weighing in over reports that the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians will possibly change their names following nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd and statue defacing and toppling.
ESPN reported on Friday that the Washington Redskins are likely to change their name, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after the team announced Friday it will “undergo a thorough review” of the nickname amid renewed pressure.
On Friday, Cleveland’s MLB team announced that a name change may be happening soon.
“We have had ongoing discussions organizationally on these issues,” the Indians said in a statement. “The recent social unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organization on issues of social justice.”
The president responded on Monday, tweeting: “They name teams out of STRENGTH, not weakness, but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like they are going to be changing their names in order to be politically correct.”
“Indians, like Elizabeth Warren, must be very angry right now!” he declared. Continued Below
President Donald Trump’s official tweet:
They name teams out of STRENGTH, not weakness, but now the Washington Redskins & Cleveland Indians, two fabled sports franchises, look like they are going to be changing their names in order to be politically correct. Indians, like Elizabeth Warren, must be very angry right now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020
Statement from the Cleveland Indians:
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 4, 2020
Redskins owner Dan Snyder has long resisted calls to change the name the football team has used since the 1930s. However, recent criticism from corporate sponsors such as FedEx — which paid the Redskins $205 million for naming rights to FedEx Field in Landover, Md. — has Snyder promising to conduct a “thorough review” on the matter, Fox News reported.
Meanwhile, “Lift“Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing,” traditionally known as the Black national anthem, is expected to be performed live or played before every Week 1 NFL game, and the league is considering a variety of other measures during the upcoming season to recognize victims of police brutality, ESPN reported.
The song would be performed before “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the NFL’s season opener is scheduled for Sept. 10, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans, per ESPN.
"Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing," commonly known as the Black national anthem, is expected to be performed live or played before every Week 1 NFL game, sources told @TheUndefeated. https://t.co/fOXcaiXOr2
— ESPN (@espn) July 2, 2020
