Iconic Trump Golf Course Opens in Washington, Sparking Debate

President Donald Trump wants to put his name on the new $3.7 billion stadium planned for the Washington Commanders NFL team. The White House called it a "great idea," adding another potential property to Trump's business empire while he serves his second term.

The proposed domed stadium would replace the aging Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium site in eastern Washington, D.C. Construction costs are estimated at $3.7 billion, with plans to seat around 65,000 fans when it opens in 2030.

White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt told ESPN that "it would be a great name because President Trump is the one who made building the new stadium possible." The comment suggests Trump played a role in clearing regulatory or political hurdles for the project.

This move fits Trump's long history of branding real estate projects with his name. From hotels to golf courses, the Trump name has been a key part of his business strategy for decades. But putting his name on a major sports venue in the nation's capital would be unprecedented for a sitting president.

The Commanders have been pushing for a new stadium for years. Their current home in Landover, Maryland, is widely considered outdated and poorly located. A new D.C. stadium would bring the team back to the city they represented for decades before moving to the suburbs.

For Washington sports fans, the naming rights question adds another layer to an already complex project. The team only recently changed its name from the Washington Redskins to the Commanders in 2022 after years of pressure over the old name's racial connotations.

Stadium naming rights typically cost corporations millions of dollars annually. But this situation is different since Trump holds the presidency and apparently helped facilitate the project's approval. The arrangement raises questions about how business interests and presidential duties intersect.

The 2030 timeline means construction would extend well beyond Trump's current term, which ends in January 2029. But getting his name locked in now could secure the branding regardless of future political changes.