Donald Trump has branded the Cleveland Indians' recent name change to the Cleveland Guardians "such a disgrace" to Native Americans.
Per BBC News, Team owner Paul Dolan said he had an "awakening or epiphany" regarding the Ohio-based team's name following the death of George Floyd last year.
The former name - which was first adopted back in 1915 - was reportedly the subject of criticism from fans and Native American groups for some time.
Following months of racial justice protests sparked by Floyd's death, the team revealed that they would be dropping their name back in December. Their new monicker takes the name of a pair of famous statues in the city of Cleveland, BBC reports, and was unveiled by actor Tom Hanks in a stirring Twitter video.
"It has always been Cleveland that has been the best part of our name," Hanks says in the video. "This is the city we love and the game we believe in and together we are all Cleveland Guardians."
However, one outspoken critic of the name change is former US president Donald Trump, who has labeled the name change a "disgrace" in a public statement shared on Friday, July 23.
Part of Trump's statement reads: "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."
The former POTUS went on to describe the change as "disrespectful" to Native Americans, adding: "I guarantee that the people who are most angry about it are the many Indians of our Country."
Trump's statement continued: "The people of Cleveland cannot be thrilled and I, as a FORMER baseball fan, cannot believe things such as this are happening. A small group of people, with absolutely crazy ideas and policies, is forcing these changed to destroy our culture and heritage. At some point, the people will not take it anymore!"
However, many people were in favor of the change, such as Secretary Deb Haaland, who tweeted: "I am glad to see that the Cleveland baseball team is finally changing its name.
"The long practice of using Native American mascots and imagery in sports [teams] has been harmful to Indigenous communities. This is a welcome and necessary change."
Per The Insider, from the 2019 season, the team also dropped their "Chief Wahoo" logo over accusations that it was an offensive racial caricature.