Trump backs Long Island high school's bid to keep Native American 'Chiefs' mascot

On Monday, President Donald Trump directed his education secretary to investigate a New York high school that has been ordered by a federal judge to change its Native American mascot, the "Chiefs." This comes after Massepequa High School in Long Island solicited the president for help after the school district lost a lawsuit against the state requesting to keep the mascot logo and name. Under New York law, schools must remove indigenous-related emblems before the end of the school year.

In a post on Truth Social, the president called the decision "ridiculous" and urged Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "fight for the people of Massapequa."

"I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population. The School Board, and virtually everyone in the area, are demanding the name be kept. It has become the School's identity and, what could be wrong with using the name, 'Chief'? I don't see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon! By copy of this TRUTH, I am asking my highly capable Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue. LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!"




In September, the school district filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging that the Board of Regents had infringed upon its First Amendment rights by prohibiting school officials and officers from wearing "Chiefs" merchandise at events and on school property, Fox News reported. A federal judge ruled in favor of the state. According to the district, the cost of rebranding and the preservation of its identity would be approximately $1 million. 

Massapequa School Board President Kerry Wachter told the New York Post last week that the school issued an SOS to the Department of Education, explaining, "Changing the name doesn't have any good effect on our kids. This is their identity, this is who they are - they are the Chiefs."

According to New York state law, schools must eliminate Native American team names, mascots, and logos by June 30, 2025.