United States President Donald Trump already has his name emblazoned on properties across the globe — from luxury golf resorts to towering skyscrapers. But in an insane twist, it appears he’s eyeing an even more grandiose structure to be built in his name.
According to a report from ESPN, Donald Trump wants the Washington Commanders to name their new $3.7 billion stadium after him.
ESPN reports there have been “back-channel communications” between the White House and a member of the Commanders’ ownership group regarding the possibility of naming the new stadium after him.
The White House hasn’t directly confirmed the report, but it hasn’t denied it either, suggesting that it was a possibility.
“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.
While Leavitt stopped short of confirming the report, a senior White House official told the outlet that the stadium would likely bear Trump’s name.
“It’s what the president wants, and it will probably happen,” the source told ESPN.
The decision, however, won’t rest entirely with the Commanders. It will ultimately fall to the District of Columbia Council — which will lease the stadium to the team — and the National Park Service, which oversees the federal land where the venue is set to be constructed.
According to the same ESPN source, Trump “has plenty of leverage” to ensure the outcome goes his way, regardless of which authority makes the call.
“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.”
Obviously, this is a pretty insane development that nobody expected, and it led to a lot of reactions on social media.
“The $3.7 billion stadium naming request isn’t about ego. It’s about the most sophisticated application of soft power leverage we’ve seen in modern American politics, and everyone’s mistaking the strategy for vanity,” one person wrote in a post on X.
“If true, this is the most classic Trump story in history… His involvement started with him belatedly realizing his stadium leverage may enable him to restore the ‘Redskins’ in a victory against Wokism. It ends with him dropping that, and instead wanting the stadium named for HIM!” someone else wrote.
“Imagine pulling up to ‘Trump Stadium’ just to watch the Commanders get cooked,” someone else added.
“Trump wanting the Commanders stadium named after him is the least shocking plot twist ever. Washington can’t even pick a QB, now they gotta pick a president too?” another person added.
“Trump Stadium where every touchdown comes with a side of ego,” another person quipped.
“Rough day for the ‘shut up and dribble’ crowd,” someone else added.
Whether this ultimately comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it’s beginning to sound like a very real possibility.
About Dave Kelsey
Bets on sports stuff.