Trump Wants Commanders’ $3.7B Stadium Named After Him
President Donald Trump wants the Washington Commanders’ new $3.7 billion stadium to bear his name and according to multiple reports, the push is already happening behind the scenes.
Sources told ESPN and The Guardian that Trump has conveyed his wishes directly to a member of the team’s ownership group, led by Josh Harris, and that White House officials have quietly reached out to the Commanders about his request.
“It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” a senior White House source told ESPN.
“That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in an email Friday night.
What’s at Stake
The new domed stadium, part of a $3.7 billion redevelopment project on the old RFK Stadium site, will return Washington’s NFL team to the city for the first time since 1996.
The deal, approved by the D.C. Council (11–2 vote) on Sept. 17, is being billed as “the largest economic development project in D.C. history.”
$2.7 billion: Commanders’ investment, covering all cost overruns.
$1 billion: City contribution toward infrastructure, housing, and retail around the 174-acre site.
65,000 seats, domed roof, and projected opening in 2030.
The Commanders currently play in Landover, Maryland, but the RFK move will bring them back within two miles of the U.S. Capitol, a deeply symbolic return for longtime Washington fans.
Trump’s Leverage
The catch: the land is federally owned.
While the Commanders control stadium naming rights for sponsorships, the District of Columbia and the National Park Service (NPS) hold final authority over naming any public structure on the RFK site.
That gives Trump significant power. As president, he oversees the agencies responsible for environmental and construction approvals at the site, meaning he could delay or block progress if the stadium doesn’t get his desired name.
“He has cards to play,” said a source with knowledge of the deal.
“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.”
No Corporate Sponsor — Just “Trump Field”?
Unlike most NFL teams that sell naming rights to major corporations (think GEHA Field at Arrowhead, Empower Field at Mile High), Trump reportedly doesn’t want a business transaction. Sources say he wants the stadium named after him as a tribute, similar to Lambeau Field in Green Bay or Soldier Field in Chicago, not a paid deal.
“He doesn’t want to buy the name or have a sponsor buy it for him,” one insider told ESPN. “He wants it as a thank-you for getting the project approved.”
Politics Behind the Play
This move comes just months after Trump threatened to block the stadium’s construction in July unless the team changed its name back to the Redskins, a moniker dropped in 2020 after years of controversy and replaced by the Commanders in 2022. The Harris ownership group has publicly dismissed the idea of restoring the old name, though some fans continue to campaign for it.
Trump is expected to attend Sunday’s Commanders vs. Lions home game in Landover, Maryland, as Harris’s guest. The team has reportedly spent several days preparing for his visit, where informal discussions about the new stadium are expected to take place.
He’s also slated to take part in halftime military appreciation ceremonies.
Timeline Recap
April 2025 – Trump, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Commissioner Roger Goodell, and Josh Harris announce the stadium deal.
July 2025 – Trump threatens to block construction unless team reverts to “Redskins.”
Sept. 17, 2025 – D.C. Council approves the RFK redevelopment 11–2.
Oct. 2025 – Demolition of old RFK structures begins.
2030 – Target opening date for new Commanders stadium.
Why It Matters
If Trump gets his way, this would mark the first modern U.S. sports stadium named after a sitting president, a move that could spark political and cultural backlash across the league.
The Commanders’ ownership now finds itself in the middle of a political power play, balancing a lucrative corporate naming deal against the influence of the nation’s most polarizing figure.
Whether the new building ends up being Trump Field, RFK II, or something else entirely, one thing’s clear:
Washington football is once again at the center of a national story that’s about much more than the game.
Should the stadium be named after Trump? Will this start a new precedent? Comment your thoughts below!