President Trump urges Atlanta Braves fans to continue doing controversial ‘chop’ at home games
US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the long-running row over the Atlanta Braves' "tomahawk chop", telling fans to keep performing the gesture at home games despite years of criticism that it stereotypes Native Americans. The intervention adds a political dimension to a sports tradition that has repeatedly drawn objections from Indigenous groups and commentators, while supporters defend it as a harmless expression of team spirit.
The chop, accompanied by a chant and drumbeat, has been a fixture at Braves games for decades but has faced sustained calls for it to be dropped, echoing similar disputes over Native American-themed names and imagery in US sports. The report also touches on wider debate about Trump's growing presence at sporting events, noting a CNN exchange in which reporter Sara Sidner asked UFC president Dana White whether the president's sports appearances resembled "authoritarian" tactics, a suggestion dismissed as "ridiculous" by commentator Emily Austin, who argued presidents have long attended sporting events to help unify the country.
In short
- Trump tells Atlanta Braves fans to keep doing the controversial "tomahawk chop"
- The chop has long been criticised as offensive to Native Americans
- Separately, CNN questioned whether Trump's sports appearances are "authoritarian"
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The case for
The tomahawk chop represents a cherished team tradition that has united Braves fans for generations without malicious intent. Supporters contend that the gesture is a celebration of team identity rather than mockery, that many Native Americans themselves attend and participate in the chop, and that banning fan expressions sets a troubling precedent for policing speech at sporting events. They argue that the focus should be on the fanbase's genuine affection for the team rather than imputing negative motives to millions who view it as innocent pageantry.
The case against
Critics argue that regardless of intent, the chop perpetuates dehumanising stereotypes by reducing Native American culture to a simplistic, rhythmic gesture performed for entertainment. They contend that Indigenous communities have consistently voiced objections to the imagery, that the accumulated effect of such symbols reinforces historical marginalisation, and that respecting Native Americans requires moving beyond performative gestures to genuinely listen to their concerns about representation. The argument centres on whether sports traditions should evolve when they cause demonstrable harm to communities that have already endured centuries of cultural erasure.
Explained simply
The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball team whose supporters have performed the "tomahawk chop" at home games for several decades. The gesture, made with the hand whilst fans chant and the stadium plays drumming sounds, is intended as a show of enthusiasm and team spirit.
Critics, particularly Native American groups and activists, argue that the chop stereotypes Indigenous peoples and reduces them to a harmful caricature. They contend that such imagery and gestures perpetuate negative perceptions of Native Americans and have no place in modern sports culture.
The dispute over the chop forms part of a broader debate in American sports about teams' use of Native American names, logos, and fan traditions. Across various sports, this has led some organisations to alter or abandon such practices following pressure from Indigenous groups, whilst others maintain them as part of their sporting heritage.
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