The battle over Massapequa High School's 'Chiefs' mascot has gotten a major boost from none other than Donald Trump. The former president weighed in after locals asked for his support, slamming New York State's law requiring schools to ditch Native American-related mascots by the end of the year.

Despite efforts by the Massapequa school district to keep their long-standing identity, a federal judge ruled against them, leaving the school board and much of the community frustrated. The law bans logos and names tied to indigenous imagery, a move that's been sparking heated debate on Long Island.

Trump made his position crystal clear on Truth Social, calling the potential name change "ridiculous." He insisted, "Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population." He added that the school board and "virtually everyone in the area" wants to keep the Chiefs name, and even compared the situation to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, who haven't budged on their own name.

Trump took things a step further, urging his Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to fight for Massapequa. The former president ended his post with a rallying cry: "LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!"

Local officials echoed similar sentiments. School Board President Kerry Wachter said, "Changing the name doesn’t have any good effect on our kids. This is their identity, this is who they are — they are Chiefs." The district has even called on the Department of Education for help.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also jumped into the fray, criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul and defending the use of 'Chiefs' as a symbol of leadership and bravery. "We honor and celebrate our Native American heritage here on Long Island," he said.

For the district, the stakes are high. The fight isn't just about tradition—rebranding would cost about $1 million, not to mention the loss of a community identity that's been around for generations. The school also argued in court that banning officials from wearing 'Chiefs' merchandise infringes on their First Amendment rights, but so far, the law is holding firm.

While some professional sports teams like the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have changed names under public pressure, others—like the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago Blackhawks—continue to stand their ground. Massapequa's own youth teams have even seen national success, with their Little League team winning the Softball World Series in 2022. So, yeah, this mascot is more than just a logo in these parts—it's practically a local legend.

Native American Issues News

Trump Blasts Push to Drop 'Chiefs' Mascot at NY High School, Calls It 'Ridiculous'