In a surprising twist, President Donald Trump is reportedly eyeing a unique legacy—having the new Washington Commanders stadium bear his name. According to a report by ESPN on Saturday, November 8, sources from the White House revealed that President Trump has been in discussions with the Commanders’ ownership about this naming opportunity.

“A stadium named after President Trump would certainly be a fitting tribute,” remarked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to Us Weekly. She emphasized that President Trump played a crucial role in facilitating the rebuilding of the new stadium, making the name suggestion both timely and relevant.

The new stadium is set to rise on the historic site of the old RFK Stadium, which proudly hosted the team from 1961 until 1996. This redevelopment marks a significant chapter in the Commanders’ history and serves as a potential platform for President Trump’s enduring influence in the region.

In other news related to President Trump, former baseball star Darryl Strawberry shared some personal gratitude. On November 7, the 63-year-old eight-time MLB All-Star and three-time World Series champion announced via Instagram that he had been pardoned by the president. Strawberry expressed his relief and appreciation for the pardon, which cleared his past tax evasion conviction, highlighting yet another instance where President Trump has made impactful decisions in the lives of public figures.

Former New York Mets star Darryll Strawberry, an eight-time MLB All-Star and three-time World Series champion, announced via Instagram on Friday, November 7, that he has been pardoned by President Donald Trump for his former tax evasion conviction. Strawberry, 63, said in the social media post that he received the call from President Trump on […]

The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

Any naming rights for the new stadium will have to be approved by the National Park Service and the D.C. City Council, but ESPN reports that President Trump has the leverage to get the stadium named after him.

“He has cards to play,” a source told ESPN. “He can make it very difficult, through government environmental approvals and other things, to make sure everyone who wants this stadium to be built will join to put his name on it. Trump has plenty of cards to play to get his way.”

The D.C. City Council approved plans for the new stadium in September after a push from Mayor Muriel Bowser.

The Commanders will invest $2.7 billion into the 65,000-seat stadium. Washington D.C. will contribute another $1 billion and will lease the stadium to the team. The development will also include housing, a sports complex and retail shops.

Sources also told ESPN that President Trump wants the stadium to be named after him as a tribute or thank you for his work to get it approved, similar to Lambeau Field or the former RFK Stadium.

Three months after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the plans for the new stadium, President Trump said he would block construction if Commanders owner Josh Harris did not change the team name back to its old name of the Redskins.

The name was originally changed in 2020 under former owner Dan Snyder, as it was considered offensive to some Native American groups. The franchise spent two years as the “Washington Football Team” before changing its name to the Commanders in 2022.

See photos of President Donald Trump’s kids, grandkids, wives, parents, siblings and more through the years

President Trump is scheduled to be in attendance at the Commanders game on Sunday, November 9, against the Detroit Lions, as the guest of Harris. He will be participating in halftime activities to honor the military.

According to NFL reporter Albert Breer, there have been no formal conversations between President Trump and the Commanders about the naming of the new stadium, but Harris is expecting it to be a topic of discussion during the game on Sunday.

President Trump has long boasted his name on his various hotels and golf courses around the world. Most recently, lawmakers in D.C. introduced a bill to rename the Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts.

The news comes in the midst of the longest government shutdown in United States history.