Remember when you could watch a ballgame without getting a social justice lecture between innings? Pepperidge Farm remembers. So does Donald Trump. And this week, the former—and let’s face it, future—President decided to call out the nonsense ruining America’s favorite pastimes.
In a move that had leftist sports executives clutching their branded emotional support water bottles, Trump threw down the gauntlet: Either bring back the Redskins and Indians, or forget about your shiny new taxpayer-funded stadiums.
Yes, the Commanders—because nothing screams tradition like a name you came up with during a Zoom meeting—and the Guardians—because apparently “Cleveland Rocks” wasn’t available—are now being told to return to their roots or pay the price. In Washington’s case, that means losing access to federal land for a new stadium at the old RFK site.
Trump’s message on Truth Social didn’t mince words: “We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!” He even coined a new slogan while he was at it: “MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!” You just know that slogan’s going on a red hat by the weekend.
Of course, the pearl-clutching was immediate. Cleveland Guardians president Chris Antonetti—whose name sounds like he should be running a boutique olive oil store, not a baseball team—responded with the usual corporate deflection: “I understand there are very different perspectives…” Translation: “We listened to Twitter in 2021 and now we’re stuck with a name that sounds like a Marvel spin-off.”
Let’s be honest: nobody was begging for these name changes. Most Native Americans weren’t offended. Most fans weren’t offended. But the people who are offended by everything, always and on schedule, made enough noise that team owners folded like a lawn chair at a family barbecue.
Trump pointed out something the media won’t: Native American heritage wasn’t being mocked—it was being honored. Teams like the Indians and Redskins weren’t created to insult—they were built on strength, pride, and the warrior spirit. But try explaining that to a 24-year-old activist with a gender studies degree and a TikTok account.
Now, sports aren’t just sports. They’re battlegrounds for cultural signaling. You can’t enjoy a hot dog and a seventh-inning stretch without being reminded that you’re part of some systemically oppressive, microaggression-generating machine. God forbid you show up in a classic “Redskins” jersey—some intern in a diversity office will file a hate crime report.
But here’s the thing: Trump isn’t just talking about mascots. He’s pointing to something much bigger. It’s about tradition, identity, and who gets to control the narrative in this country. The Left wants to erase anything that existed before 2016, pretending the past was all evil and we’ve only now achieved enlightenment because Target sells pronoun pins.
Trump’s message says, “Enough.” Enough bending the knee to angry social media mobs. Enough treating loyal, lifelong fans like backward relics. And definitely enough pretending that “Guardians” inspires the same passion as “Indians.”
As for the Commanders? That name was dead on arrival. Sounds more like a local arena football team or the fourth-string villain in a G.I. Joe episode. You want real tradition? Redskins. Say it again: Redskins. It’s a name people chanted with pride, not confusion.
The Left had their cultural moment. They renamed the teams, erased the logos, and patted themselves on the back. But now, the pendulum’s swinging back. Fans want their teams back—not just in name, but in spirit. Trump just gave them permission to say what they’ve been thinking all along.
If D.C. wants a stadium, they’d better start practicing how to spell “R-E-D-S-K-I-N-S” again. Because the days of silent surrender are over. It’s the bottom of the ninth, and tradition is stepping up to the plate.