United States President Donald Trump reportedly wants the Washington Commanders to name their new $3.7 billion stadium after him. While there’s still a long way to go before that happens, Trump does appear to be making moves with the Commanders.
ESPN reported on Saturday morning that there have been “back-channel communications” between the White House and a member of the Commanders’ ownership group about the possibility of naming the new stadium after him.
The White House even addressed the report without confirming or denying.
“That would be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ESPN on Friday night via email.
Although Leavitt didn’t directly confirm the report, a senior White House official told ESPN that the stadium will likely bear Trump’s name.
“It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” the source told ESPN.
According to the ESPN source, Trump “has plenty of leverage” to ensure he gets the outcome he wants, no matter which governing body is in charge.
“He has cards to play. 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,” the source said. “Trump has plenty of cards to play to get his way.”
While neither the team nor the White House has confirmed these talks, The Athletic was able to confirm one significant update as the outlet reported that Trump will be in attendance at Sunday’s game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders.
The Athletic reports that Trump will sit in team owner Josh Harris’ suite during the game and that team ownership “anticipates conversations” with the President about the new stadium during Sunday’s game.
This will be the first time in 47 years that a sitting president will attend a regular-season NFL game.
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