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Making sure to maintain his very interesting focus, Donald Trump took time away from making grandiose claims like he'd win an election over a George Washington/Abe Lincoln ticket and fundraising rallies to direct his anger at a baseball team dropping a racist name.
The Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland has changed it's name and mascot from an offensive caricature of Indigenous people akin to blackface to an alternative renaming the team the Cleveland Guardians.
The baseball franchise released a roll out video for the new name.
That’s just a hell of a rollout. Respect 🙏 https://t.co/SydBaJEUPJ— Ben LaBolt (@Ben LaBolt) 1627058897.0
While most Americans and tribal members would be glad to be rid of overtly racist displays in our diverse country, the disgraced former President took offense.
Since Trump's Twitter ban is in full effect, despite his attempts to make a new account, Trump had his mouthpiece Liz Harrington post a statement on his behalf.
NEW! President Trump: "Can anybody believe that the Cleveland Indians, a storied and cherished baseball franchise… https://t.co/GQhhKkWTum— Liz Harrington (@Liz Harrington) 1627059570.0
In the statement Trump said:
“...and I guarantee that the people who are most angry about it are the many Indians of our Country."
"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?"
When he ended his rant Trump stated:
“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!"
Twitter users who have not been banned clapped back.
@realLizUSA "A small group of people, with absolutely crazy ideas, is trying to convince a larger number of people… https://t.co/uNnUymXfxu— Volemangler (@Volemangler) 1627061878.0
@realLizUSA Actually as a life long baseball fan, I think it’s a great name representative of their city. And Nativ… https://t.co/JMJ8lmteWl— 【R.G.B.©】👈🏼 🌎🌵 (@【R.G.B.©】👈🏼 🌎🌵) 1627065767.0
@mwjr67 @realLizUSA On point!— j denza (@j denza) 1627137114.0
@realLizUSA You’re right! They *couldn’t* take those crazy ideas anymore, and forced Cleveland baseball ownership to change the name.— DWW (@DWW) 1627061740.0
@bfg1963 @realLizUSA then the name is actually appropriate.— christina m. brooks (@christina m. brooks) 1627061917.0
Using your status and privilege to complain about a racist name being changed is a weird flex.
Meanwhile the current President embraced antiracism.
YES! Thank you @POTUS for supporting this name change and for standing with us in our fight against racism against… https://t.co/mTlQk61Kgj— Crystal EchoHawk (@Crystal EchoHawk) 1627079762.0
The Cleveland Guardians are infrastructure. https://t.co/VXGKBZJ7nf— TransportationGov (@TransportationGov) 1627235932.0
Despite Trump's claims, the National Congress of American Indians asked all sports teams in the United States to eliminate using Indigenous people as mascots.
NCAI commends today’s announcement by the MLB franchise in Cleveland of its new team name and mascot, the “Guardian… https://t.co/STjoKFoSi6— National Congress of American Indians (@National Congress of American Indians) 1627048860.0
The announcement comes seven months after its decision to retire its long-used “Indians” name and mascot, a decisio… https://t.co/uSGIRCjctV— National Congress of American Indians (@National Congress of American Indians) 1627048861.0
Indigenous voices on Twitter show how out of touch Trump is.
An historic moment! We applaud the Cleveland team and thank those who work tirelessly on eliminating harmful sports… https://t.co/PdpWvWs78c— American Indian Policy Institute (@American Indian Policy Institute) 1627051194.0
I’m so happy my hometown baseball team will finally be changing its name to the Cleveland Guardians. Thank you to t… https://t.co/jMzWMnrvJb— Dr. Rosie Perez (@Dr. Rosie Perez) 1627048645.0
Cleveland’s Indigenous community celebrates Guardians name change and hopes schools with Native mascots follow suit https://t.co/Cd8Ud973QP— Robin Goist (@Robin Goist) 1627076548.0
“Indigenous people are not anyone’s mascot. Why they & they alone have been used as cartoon figures to make money i… https://t.co/Y33gLWySWx— Crystal EchoHawk (@Crystal EchoHawk) 1627191208.0
Watching primarily wyt folks mad at Cleveland’s baseball team being renamed the Guardians argue with Indigenous fol… https://t.co/VsR25rGHlv— Treva B (@Treva B) 1627217310.0
Numerous studies showed such mascots are harmful to the mental health and self-esteem of Indigenous children.
Trump's record with Indigenous people is one fraught with racist statements. Why he decided he was now their spokesperson is inexplicable.