Former President Donald Trump on Friday criticized Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team for changing its name from the Indians to the Guardians starting next season as ''a disgrace,'' according to The Daily Caller.
In a statement sent via email, Trump said: ''Can anybody believe that the Cleveland Indians, a storied and cherished baseball franchise since taking the name in 1915, are changing their name to the Guardians? Such a disgrace.''
He then claimed that Native Americans, referring to them as ''the many Indians of our Country,'' will be the ones most upset about the team changing its name and logo.
''I guarantee that the people who are most angry about it are the many Indians of our Country,'' Trump said. ''Wouldn’t it be an honor to have a team named the Cleveland Indians, and wouldn’t it be disrespectful to rip that name and logo off of those jerseys?''
He went on to say that he is now no longer a fan of baseball.
''The people of Cleveland cannot be thrilled and I, a FORMER baseball fan, cannot believe things such as this are happening,'' Trump said. ''A small group of people, with absolutely crazy ideas and policies, is forcing these changes to destroy our culture and heritage. At some point, the people will not take it anymore!''
The team’s owner, Paul Dolan, said in a statement when announcing the name change that "we are excited to usher in the next era of the deep history of baseball in Cleveland.''
He added that ''Cleveland has and always will be the most important part of our identity. Therefore, we wanted a name that strongly represents the pride, resiliency and loyalty of Clevelanders.''
Dolan said that the name "'Guardians' reflects those attributes that define us while drawing on the iconic Guardians of Traffic just outside the ballpark on the Hope Memorial Bridge. It brings to life the pride Clevelanders take in our city and the way we fight together for all who choose to be part of the Cleveland baseball family.
"While 'Indians' will always be a part of our history, our new name will help unify our fans and city as we are all Cleveland Guardians."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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