Trump hails New York mascot plan that leaves school ban intact

New York education officials plan to let local school districts decide whether employees may wear clothing bearing Native American imagery — a limited concession that would leave the separate ban on schools’ own use of Indigenous names, logos and mascots in place. [7] [3]

Donald Trump celebrated the proposal on Truth Social on 19 October 2026, writing: “A big WIN for Massapequa and DJT!” He linked a New York Post headline that itself described plans to drop only part of the ban. [2]

The New York State Education Department says it will recommend the clothing change to the Board of Regents, which adopted the restrictions in 2023. In a statement reported by CBS New York, a spokesperson said employee clothing decisions should be left to districts, “consistent with how other employee attire and personnel decisions are handled”. [7]

Clothing and school identity are separate

The existing personnel rule requires public schools to prohibit employees and school officials from using or promoting Indigenous names, logos or mascots on school property or at school functions. It includes an exception for staff and officials who belong to a tribal nation and use that nation’s name or imagery. [4]

A different provision prohibits public schools themselves from using or displaying Indigenous names, logos or mascots, subject to specified exceptions and an allowance for classroom teaching. Changing employee clothing policy would not remove that school-level prohibition or itself authorise Massapequa to retain Chiefs as its official sports identity. [3]

The Long Island district’s school board welcomed the proposal while continuing to seek a broader reversal. “This is a significant victory for Massapequa,” it said, adding: “We now call on Gov. Hochul to repeal the entire regulation.” [7]

Mixed court outcomes and federal pressure

The department emphasised the failure of school districts’ legal challenges in its announcement. But the latest appeal produced a mixed outcome, leaving individual speech claims alive. [7] [5]

On 1 October 2026, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the dismissal of claims by the Wantagh school district and its board because they lacked legal capacity to sue the state. It nevertheless revived board member Anthony Greco’s individual free-speech claims concerning the personnel restriction. The judges ordered further proceedings rather than striking down the rule. [5]

Massapequa’s own litigation had also produced a split result. A federal judge’s order of 14 November 2025 dismissed the district’s claims while allowing school board member Jeanine Caramore to pursue her individual First Amendment claims. [6]

Trump’s administration has intervened directly in the dispute. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Massapequa High School on 30 May 2025 and said her department’s Office for Civil Rights had found that the state ban violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The agency argued that barring Native American mascots while permitting names derived from other ethnic groups was discriminatory. McMahon demanded repeal and warned of federal enforcement and the potential loss of funding. [8]

New York refused to rescind the ban in a letter on 5 June 2025. Instead, it offered talks over an appropriate standard and raised the possibility of extending restrictions to other racial or ethnic mascots deemed offensive. [9]

The state has defended its policy as protecting pupils from discrimination and harassment. Ahead of McMahon’s visit, the National Congress of American Indians also reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to unsanctioned Native American imagery, while supporters of Massapequa’s emblem said it honoured Native American heritage. [7] [8]

How much federal pressure influenced the clothing proposal remains unclear. The department’s announced next step is a recommendation to the Regents: its adoption would give districts control over staff attire, not resolve Massapequa’s separate fight to keep the official Chiefs name and logo. [7] [3]