Donald Trump is pressing the NFL's Washington Commanders to name their planned $3.7bn stadium after him, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. The president is pursuing this through back-channel conversations with ownership and by leaning on government bodies that must approve the project.
A senior White House official said Trump has conveyed his wishes directly to a member of investor Josh Harris's ownership group. “It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” the official told ESPN. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added: “That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible.”
The Commanders declined comment, but team officials say they have spent several days preparing for Trump's visit to Sunday's home game against the Detroit Lions, where informal conversations about the stadium are expected. No formal talks have taken place. The new 65,000-seat domed venue, part of a mixed-use development, is scheduled to open in 2030.
Although the Commanders own the rights to sell a commercial stadium sponsorship, they cannot unilaterally decide to name the venue after an individual. The land is controlled by the National Park Service, and the District of Columbia Council will lease the stadium to the team under legislation approved in September. “The team doesn’t have the authority,” said a source with direct knowledge of the process.
Those layers of approval give Trump significant leverage. As president, he oversees federal agencies responsible for environmental and land-use approvals at the RFK site. “He can make it very difficult to get this stadium built unless people align with him on the name,” said one source. Trump is not seeking to buy naming rights; he wants the stadium to carry his name as a tribute, similar to Soldier Field or Lambeau Field.
The broader RFK project is the largest economic development effort in Washington's history, with the Commanders investing $2.7bn and the district contributing $1bn. Trump has previously waded into Commanders politics, threatening in July to block the stadium unless the team restored its former nickname. He is scheduled to attend Sunday's game as Harris's guest.
