US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy by claiming that Americans are “not allowed” to use the word “Indian” anymore, adding that the only people who want the term to continue are “the Indians themselves.” Trump made the remarks while speaking to a reporter on Thursday, insisting that he would “never tell anyone to change” their language.
The term “Indian” has long been used in the United States to refer to Native American communities, though its acceptance varies. Some tribal members still use the term, while others argue it is outdated, inaccurate, or rooted in the colonial-era misconception that Indigenous peoples of North America were from India — an error traced back to Christopher Columbus.
Trump’s Complicated History With Native Tribes
Trump’s comments come amid years of strained relations with Native American groups. Earlier this year, he threatened to block a new NFL stadium in Washington, DC, unless the local team reverted to its former name, the Washington Redskins, which was dropped in 2020 after decades of criticism that it was a racial slur.
On Truth Social, Trump also demanded that the Cleveland Guardians return to their former name, the “Indians,” asserting that “Indian people want it back.”
However, several Native American organisations have strongly rejected Trump’s claims.
- The Association on American Indian Affairs said Native-themed mascots and team names reduce Indigenous people “to caricatures” and ignore their diverse, living cultures.
- Conversely, the Native American Guardians Association expressed support for Trump’s stance, calling the push for reinstating old names “common sense.”
Historical Tensions Resurfacing
Trump has previously clashed with Native American tribes. In 1993, during a congressional hearing about tribal-run casinos, he controversially remarked that some tribes “don’t look like Indians to me,” and even suggested he might have “more Indian blood than” many Native Americans involved in reservation businesses.
His latest comments once again highlight the political and cultural disputes surrounding Indigenous identity, historical terms, and sports mascots in the US.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
