What a way to start the day. In a Saturday morning tweet, President Trump rescinded Stephen Curry's White House invitation, telling his followers about the Golden State Warriors' point guard: "Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Of course, Twitter took notice of Trump's tweet and responded accordingly.
Trump's tweet arrived after reports emerged that the Golden State Warriors may be looking to skip an invitation from the White House. The team has been considering whether or not they would celebrate their NBA championship at the White House this fall but Steve Kerr, head coach of the team, told ESPN, "We will meet as a team to discuss it and make a decision."
Although a number of Twitter users responded with aptly humorous jokes against Trump's Saturday morning tweet, many pointed out the more serious and troubling racial aspect of Trump's comments. Prior to his Saturday morning remarks, Trump delivered a thinly veiled and incredibly harsh diatribe against African American football player Colin Kaepernick in Alabama on Friday night.
Kaepernick gained nationwide attention for his protest against police brutality after he refused to stand for the American national anthem in 2016. On Friday night, Trump indirectly call him a "son of a b*tch" during his public address in Huntsville, Alabama. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded to Trump's statement, calling it "divisive" and disrespectful to "the NFL, our great game, and all of our players."
In addition to Trump attacking Curry and Kaepernick, the president recently shared a scathing tweet against the African American ESPN anchor, Jemele Hill on September 15. ""ESPN is paying a really big price for its politics (and bad programming)," Trump said, "People are dumping it in RECORD numbers. Apologize for untruth!" Trump was tweeting in response to Hill describing him as a "white supremacist." The anchor issued an apology later on.
The common racial background of each individual was obvious to many reacting to Trump's Saturday morning rescinding-invitation tweet. Journalist for New Yorker, Ryan Lizza, tweeted, "Trump has now attacked Jemele Hill, Colin Kaepernick, and Stephen Curry. All have something in common but I can’t quite put my finger on it."
Here's how other Twitter users reacted — with both humor and sobriety.
1. Trump Picks Up His White House
Observers felt that Trump was behaving childishly to Curry's lack of enthusiasm.
2. How ESPN Must Feel
Some felt that ESPN must be itching to respond to Trump's Curry tweet and his Friday night remarks about NFL's ratings and Kaepernick.
3. Curry Don't Curr
A lot of Twitter users think Curry simply doesn't care. This wouldn't be surprising given the fact that Curry has expressed criticism against Trump. On Friday, the legendary point guard told media that he had no plans of going to the White House.
4. All Is Well
Folks believe the team doesn't care. There is a high probability that folks might be right.
5. This Glorious Curry Clip
Enjoy the music.
6. An Unmistakable Theme
Going back to Lizza's tweet, many noted that all three individuals recently lampooned by Trump were African Americans.
7. A Noticeable Pattern
Sports writers brought up Trump's recent remarks about Kaepernick, Curry, and Hill and compared those with his remarks on Nazis in America.
8. More Are Noticing
It wasn't just one person who noticed there was a commonality in Trump's targets.
9. Observers Spot A Trend
"Guys, I think Trump's a white supremacist," one user said.
10. "What Do They Have In Common?"
Race.
11. This Photo
Back to humor, the kid who wanted to mow the lawn in front of the White House became a meme in today's debacle.
12. Common Factor
"Notice a trend?"
13. Curry's Daughter
This one wins.
14. A Kid Could Spot The Theme
It's that obvious, according to observers.
15. Sparkly Gif
Curry doesn't care.
16. More Possible Curry Reactions
Curry fans came through.
17. Priorities
Some just wished Trump would talk about the Republican health care bill.
18. Modified Gif Time
One user shared what they felt Trump's Saturday tweet read like.
19. This Question
An important and relevant one.
20. Logic
A rescinded invitation may not mean much to an uninterested party.
21. The Curry Couple Dancing
Good moves.
Curry has been clear about why he does not plan to go to the White House. "That we don’t stand for basically what our president has – the things that he’s said and the things that he hasn’t said in the right times, that we won’t stand for it."
The Golden State Warriors play went on and said, "By acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to. It’s not just the act of not going there."
