Donald Trump believes that the Washington Commanders should name their new $3.7billion stadium after him, according to reports.
Trump is set to attend his first NFL game of the season on Sunday afternoon when he watched the Commanders take on the Detroit Lions at the Northwest Stadium.
Following the announcement of Trump’s attendance, it was later revealed that the president would be joining Commanders owner Josh Harris in his suite for the game.
Now, it appears there could be plenty for them to discuss after a White House official revealed Trump’s desires for the Commanders to name their stadium after him.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ESPN: ‘That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible’.
The outlet claim that Leavitt did not answer further questions but did say: ‘It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen.’
President Donald Trump is set to attend his first NFL game of the season on Sunday afternoon
Trump will meet owner Josh Harris (left) when he watches the Commanders take on the Lions
Renderings of a new football facility to be built on the site of RFK Stadium have been revealed
ESPN claim that the Commanders anticipate a conversation with Trump to be held, regarding the stadium’s name, but no formal conversations have taken place yet.
It was confirmed in September that the Commanders will return to the site of their former home, RFK Stadium, amid plans to build a stunning $3.7m stadium.
The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, but aim to open a new venue in 2030 on the same RFK site where the team played when it won three Super Bowls in the 1980s and ’90s.
Congress passed a bill transferring the RFK Stadium land to the city that was signed by then-President Joe Biden in early January.
That paved the way for making it possible to replace the old stadium with a mixed-use development, including the new venue for the Commanders.
Trump made mention of the stunning stadium back in May, when he confirmed that the 2027 NFL Draft would be heading to the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Throughout the announcement, Trump’s desk was scattered with personalized Washington football memorabilia, including a ‘Trump’ No. 47 replica jersey.
The National Mall is capable of holding several hundred thousands spectators, although the exact capacity for the 2027 NFL Draft has yet to be announced.
Trump’s office was adorned with Commanders gear during an NFL announcement in May
The Commanders will return to the site of their former home, RFK Stadium, starting in 2030
Washington DC has never hosted the event since it began changing venues in 2015. Previously the draft was primarily held in New York and Philadelphia.
He then discussed the Commanders’ plans to return to the site of the RFK Stadium – which hadn’t been approved at the time – and heaped praise on the team’s plans.
‘I don’t think there is a better site anywhere in the world than that site,’ Trump said, while taking some credit for the plan.
‘It sat there for years and people were talking about stadiums and 25 different sites. I said they’re not talking about the best site. That’s the best site there is.’
However, months later, Trump said he intended to block federal support for the stadium project unless the Commanders change back to the name it formerly adopted before being axed in 2020 amid pressure from fans, sponsors and Native American groups who considered ‘Redskins’ a racial slur.
‘I may put a restriction on them that if they don’t change the name back to the original ‘Washington Redskins,’ and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, ‘Washington Commanders,’ I won’t make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington,’ the president said on Truth Social in August.
Northwest Stadium has been the home of the Commanders since 1997. It was ranked as the second-worst NFL stadium by Daily Mail last month, only besting MetLife Stadium, home of division rivals the New York Giants and the AFC’s New York Jets.
