Star athletes respond to testy presidential debate with a four-letter word: Vote
Prominent figures in the sports world tuned in to the first debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday night like many around the country.
And just like normal, everyday people narrowing their eyes at the three-ring circus being projected into their living rooms, they had a simple message for their followers on Twitter: Vote.
From NBA stars LeBron James to Stephen Curry to team accounts including the Atlanta Hawks, Twitter was set ablaze with a simple four-letter word acting as a match.
PLEASE VOTE!!!!! @morethanavote
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 30, 2020
After watching the adventurous #2020PresidentialDebate and not really being able to hear anything... if nothing else, make sure you’re heard. https://t.co/8819BrUwb8
— Renee Montgomery (@ReneeMontgomery) September 30, 2020
PLEASE VOTE PLEASE VOTE PLEASE VOTE!!!
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 30, 2020
Hold on !! He’s talking about Philly?
Philly everyone please get out and VOTE!!— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) September 30, 2020
REGISTER TO VOTE
Text HAWKS to 26797 right now— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 30, 2020
Please vote.
— Victor Cruz (@TeamVic) September 30, 2020
Many, including Curry, hopped into the conversation after Trump was asked to condemn white supremacists but instead called for members of the far-right organization, the Proud Boys, to “stand back” and “stand by.”
“Who would you like me to condemn? The Proud Boys? Stand back and stand by,” Trump said.
Stand back and stand by??????????? No further questions your honor! #vote
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) September 30, 2020
Donald Trump still couldn’t deny white supremacy. By the way Trump told the Proud Boys to STAND BY.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 30, 2020
Athletes also noted that Trump seemed to fail to condemn white supremacy as moderator Chris Wallace had directly asked.
He couldn’t say it
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) September 30, 2020
He was asked about racism and responded about law enforcement...
— Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) September 30, 2020
And he still didn’t say it ♂️♂️
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) September 30, 2020
Many athletes noted that the entire ordeal was just, as CNN’s Jake Tapper put it, “a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck,” and called for Wallace to take control of the debate.
Put your foot down Chris Wallace!
— Skylar Diggins-Smith (@SkyDigg4) September 30, 2020
This debate is out of control!! Why have a moderator when he can’t even control it!
— Georges Niang (@GeorgesNiang20) September 30, 2020
Chris Wallace .....
— Doris Burke (@heydb) September 30, 2020
The Moderator is gonna cuss before this over.
— Deion Sanders (@DeionSanders) September 30, 2020
Someone send Chris Wallace as many bottles of wine he can drink ( if he drinks ) after this one!! Put it on my tab!! Thank you Chris for being an adult!!
— Kyle Lowry (@Klow7) September 30, 2020
....someone please explain to me why they don’t mute the microphone of the candidate who isn’t supposed to be speaking, especially when the moderator is continuously forgetting to actually moderate???
— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) September 30, 2020
And then there was NBA veteran Hassan Whiteside’s take on the debate, which provided many with a much-needed laugh.
