President Donald Trump has offered to become involved in the stalled negotiations to build a new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.
The Commanders currently play at FedEx Field in Maryland. The Washington Examiner reports the $3.7 billion stadium project, which would be built on the site of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium site, has faced opposition from some members of the DC Council due to the level of public funding being sought. The team offered to put up $2.7 billion with the city covering $1 billion of construction costs. Mayor Muriel Bowser sought to have the council approve the project by July 15, but some council members want to postpone the mayor’s deadline in favor of completing economic studies on the project and hosting hearings to cull public input.
President Trump offered to step in to help speed the project forward and close the deal.
“If I can help them out, I would,” said Trump to reporters at the White House. “Ultimately, the federal government controls that. So, we’ll see what happens. I saw the plans; I saw the stadium — the owner’s a very successful and a very good man. I know him a little bit. And it would be a great place for the NFL to be.”
Trump also offered unsolicited advice regarding the team’s name, which was adopted in 2022 as a replacement for its original Washington Redskins moniker.
“I wouldn’t have changed the name,” Trump said. “It just doesn’t have the same ring to me. But, you know, winning can make everything sound good. So, if they win, all of a sudden, the Commanders sounds good.”
Photo courtesy of the White House
