ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday he believes the name of Washington’s professional football team “probably should be changed,” though he supported the team’s name when he ran for governor in 2014.
Hogan, a moderate Republican and a critic of President Donald Trump, was asked on NBC’s “Today” show whether he thought the NFL team should change its name.
“I think the time is probably right,” Hogan said. “I’m glad that they’re having that discussion. I believe the name will be changed.”
Hogan told The New York Times this week he is considering a run for president in 2024. The second-term governor remains popular in his heavily Democratic state, and his position on the Washington Redskins is another wedge between him and Trump, who said the team was considering a name change “in order to be politically correct.”
The Redskins play in Landover, Maryland. Hogan grew up in the area as a fan of the team.
“It’s got a lot of history associated with the name, but I understand it’s a hurtful name, and in today’s context it probably should be changed,” Hogan said.
Additionally, Amazon will stop selling Washington Redskins merchandise after the football team said it would undergo a review of its name, which is considered a racial slur.
The Seattle-based online shopping giant informed sellers Wednesday morning that it would be pulling Redskins merchandise from its online marketplace. Other major retailers, including Walmart, have also stopped selling the team’s merchandise.
The recent national conversation on race has renewed opposition to the name, prompting its sponsors to speak up. The name review, which the team announced last week, could lead to a name change.
On Wednesday, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson commended Amazon for “taking this swift action to support this long overdue change.” Earlier in the day, Ferguson published a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos pressing the company to drop the team’s merchandise.
