Dwyane Wade responded to Donald Trump’s insensitive tweet about his cousin Nykea Aldridge during a Thursday, September 1, interview with Good Morning America, which you can watch in the clip above.
The Chicago Bulls basketball player, 34, felt “conflicted” after the Republican presidential nominee, 70, spoke out about the death of Aldridge, who died at age 32 after she was gunned down in the Parkway Gardens neighborhood of Chicago on August 26.
“On one hand, your cousin’s death is used as a ploy for political gain,” Wade told GMA’s George Stephanopoulos. “I was grateful that it started a conversation, but on the other hand, it just [left] a bad taste in my mouth because of what my family is dealing with.”
As previously reported, Aldridge — who had four children — was pushing a stroller last Friday when she was caught in the crossfire of several men who were shooting at one another. Wade took to Twitter to confirm her death later that night.
Just hours after news of the tragic incident broke, Trump tweeted, “Dwyane Wade’s cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!”
The ex–Celebrity Apprentice host’s tweet was widely criticized as many Twitter users slammed him for trying to benefit from Wade’s loss. The real estate tycoon-turned-politician has been actively trying to appeal to African American voters by saying minority communities face increased violence and danger. He recently told black voters they should support him because “What the hell do you have to lose?”
Though Trump sent his condolences to Wade’s family amid the social media outrage over his earlier tweet, the NBA star is upset that the business mogul’s decision to acknowledge his cousin’s death caused a media firestorm.
“A lot of the things I’ve seen wasn’t even her name,” he said on GMA, noting that many outlets simply identified Aldridge as “Dwyane Wade’s cousin.” He added: “And that hurt me to be the name that they talked about instead of talking about a mother of four.”
Watch the video above.
