White House says naming new Commanders stadium after Trump would be ‘beautiful’

The comments come as ESPN reports that the president has privately floated the idea of calling the $3.7 billion facility “Trump Stadium,” with “back-channel communications” reportedly sent to the group that owns the team. A White House source told the outlet that what the president wants “will probably happen.”

According to the report, Trump’s preference is for the name to mirror historic stadiums like Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, which honors team founder and longtime coach Earl “Curly” Lambeau. The Commanders do not control naming rights under their current agreement. The final decision rests with the District of Columbia Council, which is expected to lease the stadium to the team, and the National Park Service, which owns the land.

The new stadium is projected to open in 2030. While Trump holds significant influence over the project, officials say he doesn’t have full authority to decide the name. Still, with his role in pushing the redevelopment through, insiders say his opinion carries weight.

Trump, an avid football fan, is set to attend Sunday’s Washington Commanders–Detroit Lions game in honor of Veterans Day. It will be the first time in 47 years that a sitting president attends a regular-season NFL matchup.

Commanders President Mark Clouse said the team was “honored to welcome President Trump to the game,” adding that they’re proud to support the NFL’s “Salute to Service” initiative. “The entire Commanders organization is proud to participate in the league-wide Salute to Service initiative, recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans,” Clouse said.

The last president to attend a regular-season NFL game was Jimmy Carter in 1978, when the then–Washington Redskins defeated the Dallas Cowboys 9–5 at RFK Memorial Stadium.