President Trump: “I think it’s degrading to the Indian population. Look, I think when the Indian population is a great part of this country, great heritage. And we were talking about Massapequa, Long Island, the Chiefs, they own the Chiefs. The Kansas City Chiefs, they’re not changing their name. Great team, great people, great owners, great coach—quarterback, I love the quarterback, and his girlfriend too. His wife is gracious, she’s been a big fan. His quarterback’s mother is incredible. I like that team, they call them the Chiefs and frankly, I see nothing wrong with it. They call them the Warriors, not that team, but a lot of other teams, and all of these Indian surnames and different names, and I’m saying that I think it’s a positive thing. And when you go back to Indians, they polled this—they don’t know why these names are being taken off. They tried to—I think it’s degrading to the Indian population and it’s a great population, and they liked when they’re, you know, called by various names. Now, Washington, the Redskins, perhaps that’s a little different, a little bit different, but I can tell you that I spoke to people of Indian heritage that love that name and they love that team, and I think it’s a much, you know, I think it’s a superior name to what they have right now. It had heritage behind it, it had something special. A lot of the names having to do with, you know, different places, not just Indians. But I think it’s— they changed the name of the Cleveland Indians—why would you take the name Indians off the Cleveland Indians and now it’s called the Cleveland something else?”Reporter: “Guardians.”
President Trump: “Guardians. It just doesn’t make sense to me. So, you know, we’re about bringing common sense back to this country, and it may be popular or unpopular what I’m saying and I just said to you—he’s a nice guy, he got a lot out of me on this one, but I think most people agree with me. It’s—it really is demeaning to Indians. But to change the name of the Cleveland Indians as an example to the Cleveland Guardians is not the same. And I’m sure it has an impact on the team.”
