President’s Ambition for Stadium Name
Reports indicate that President Trump is interested in having the Washington Commanders’ upcoming stadium in the District named after him.
An anonymous senior White House source revealed to ESPN that discussions have occurred between Trump’s team and a member of the Commanders’ ownership regarding this naming request.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed support via email, stating, “That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible.”
The domed stadium is set to be constructed on the site of RFK Stadium, which served as the home for the Washington Redskins from 1961 until 1996. Legislation passed in 2024 granted D.C. control over this land for a period of 99 years.
A $3.7 billion deal was finalized between the D.C. Council and the Commanders in August to facilitate construction. Groundbreaking is planned for 2026, with an anticipated opening by 2030.
A source familiar with the naming process noted that “the team doesn’t have the authority” to name the stadium after Trump, emphasizing that both city officials and the Park Service would need to be involved in such a decision.
This Sunday, Trump will attend a home game for the Commanders against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. He previously threatened to halt construction if the team did not revert to its Redskins name.
In May, during an Oval Office announcement with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and primary owner Josh Harris present, Trump declared that Washington’s National Mall will host the 2027 NFL Draft.
