The Cleveland Guardians have no intention of reverting to their former ‘Indians’ name, despite passionate calls from Donald Trump on Sunday to do just that.
Trump fired out messages on truth social aimed at the Guardians and Washington Commanders, threatening to block to NFL team’s stadium move if they didn’t return to their old ‘Redskins’ name.
But despite the President’s demands, the baseball side will apparently be staying with their new name.
‘I understand there are very different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago,’ Guardians president Chris Antonetti said in a statement.
‘But it’s a decision we’ve made and we’ve gotten the opportunity to build the brand as the Guardians over the last four years and we’re excited about the future that’s in front of us.’
Cleveland announced in December 2020 that the team would drop its ‘Indians’ nickname, announcing the switch to ‘Guardians’ the following year.
Donald Trump won’t be pleased by Cleveland Guardians’ response to his name-change calls
The comments from Antonetti risk upsetting the President, given the passion with which he outlined his case.
‘The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
‘What he doesn’t understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!’
Matt Dolan is actually no longer involved in the running of the Guardians franchise but was was twice a candidate in the Ohio Senate elections in 2022 and 2024, losing on both occasions.
After venting about the NFL team in DC, Trump had earlier said of the baseball team: ‘Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past. Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen.
‘Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!’
But while the Guardians are resisting the calls from Trump, he might have more leverage over the Washington Commanders.
In a later post Sunday, Trump said he may veto their stadium move back towards DC if the organization wants to continue with their present name.
‘My statement on the Washington Redskins has totally blown up, but only in a very positive way,’ Trump wrote.
‘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.’
