Trump promises to ‘fight’ for Long Island town in standoff over New York’s Native American logo ban
President Trump has stepped in to support a Long Island town in its battle to keep its school’s team name and logo, which pays homage to the area’s Native American ancestors. The town of Massapequa has been embroiled in a legal fight for nearly two years after New York State demanded the removal of the “Chiefs” logo due to a ban on Native American imagery.
The Massapequa school board reached out to Trump for help after their court battle to keep the logo proved unsuccessful. Trump took to Truth Social to express his support, stating, “I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School.” He also pledged to ask Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to advocate on behalf of the town, emphasizing that forcing them to change the name after so many years is unjust and disrespectful to the Native American population.
The president noted that there is overwhelming support in the area for retaining the name, with “virtually everyone in the area” standing behind the school. In 2023, New York’s Department of Education issued a directive for schools with Native American team connections to rebrand, leading to a lawsuit from Massapequa and other towns facing similar challenges.
The school board president, Kerry Wachter, previously highlighted the significant cost of rebranding across the town’s nine public schools, estimating it to be around $1 million. Trump pointed out the irony of the situation by referencing the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional football team that has not faced pressure to change its name.
The Massapequa Chiefs logo has become an integral part of the school’s identity, and Trump’s intervention has brought renewed attention to the issue. As the town continues to fight for the right to preserve its cultural heritage through the school’s name and logo, the support from the highest office in the country adds momentum to their cause.
As this story unfolds, updates will be provided to track the progress of the town’s efforts to retain the Massapequa Chiefs logo. Long live the Massapequa Chiefs!
