Sources Say President Views Naming as Tribute for Securing Deal

Washington, D.C. (ESPN) — November 8, 2025

President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire for the Washington Commanders' forthcoming $3.7 billion stadium in the nation's capital to be named after him, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The request, communicated through back-channel discussions with the team's ownership group, frames the naming as a tribute to Trump's role in facilitating the project's approval.

The stadium, set to rise on the historic site of the former RFK Stadium—home to the franchise from 1961 to 1996—is slated for completion in 2030 and will feature a 65,000-seat domed arena along with housing, retail, and sports complex developments on a 174-acre parcel just two miles from the U.S. Capitol. The Commanders, owned by Josh Harris since 2023, announced the deal in April alongside NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. The team is committing $2.7 billion to construction, covering any overruns, while the district contributes $1 billion and leases the venue back to the franchise.

A senior White House official revealed that informal overtures have been made to a member of the Harris-led ownership group, emphasizing Trump's vision for the venue to echo iconic non-corporate names like Lambeau Field in Green Bay. "It's what the president wants, and it will probably happen," the source told ESPN, adding that Trump does not intend to purchase the naming rights or rely on a corporate sponsor to do so on his behalf.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the sentiment in a Friday night email to ESPN, stating, "That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible." The push aligns with broader efforts during Trump's second term to immortalize his legacy in public infrastructure, including a recent congressional bill to rename the Kennedy Center as the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts.

The Commanders currently play at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland—about nine miles from the RFK site—where the team celebrated three Super Bowl victories. The return to D.C. holds deep sentimental value for fans and ownership alike, with the D.C. Council approving the project 11-2 on September 17. Mayor Bowser has hailed it as "the largest economic development project in D.C. history."

However, the naming decision carries complexities. While the Commanders hold the rights to sell naming sponsorships—potentially worth hundreds of millions, as seen with deals like Empower Field at Mile High—honoring an individual would likely require approval from the D.C. Council and the National Park Service, which oversees the federal land. A source close to the process noted, "The team doesn't have the authority. They can't name the stadium... on their own."

Trump's involvement isn't new to the stadium saga. In July, he publicly threatened to derail the deal unless the team reverted to its former "Redskins" moniker—a name retired in 2020 amid backlash over its derogatory connotations toward Native Americans. The franchise operated as the Washington Football Team for two years before adopting "Commanders" under Harris's tenure. Trump argued at the time that restoring the old name would make the team "much more valuable."

A team spokesperson declined to comment Saturday, though a Commanders source indicated preparations are underway for Trump's attendance at Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions, where he will join halftime ceremonies honoring the military as Harris's guest. "While the Commanders anticipate possible conversations with Trump about the new stadium during the game, there have been no formal conversations to date," the source added.

Observers suggest Trump holds leverage through federal oversight, including environmental approvals. "He has cards to play," one source with knowledge of the deal remarked. "He can make it very difficult... to make sure everyone who wants this stadium to be built will join to put his name on it."

As the project advances, the intersection of politics, sports, and legacy-building underscores the high stakes. For now, the Commanders' focus remains on the field, but the shadow of Pennsylvania Avenue looms large over the RFK site's rebirth.