Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 07:02 pm
In December, Trump claimed that there are no Muslim sports heroes, but today, Trump called the late Muhammad Ali a champion and a wonderful guy.
Trump responded to the news that Ali had passed away at age 74 by tweeting:
Muhammad Ali is dead at 74! A truly great champion and a wonderful guy. He will be missed by all!
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2016
But in December, Trump tweeted:
Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who? Is Obama profiling?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Ali made his distaste for Trump anti-Muslim rhetoric known in a December 9, 2015 statement:
We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. They have alienated many from learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.
Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is.
Trump is a pathological liar who can go from bashing Ali, and all Muslim sports heroes, to praising Ali after his passing without a hint of remorse or acknowledgment of his previous public statements.
If Donald Trump can’t even be consistent on something like his comments about a sports legend, it speaks volumes about how he would govern the country. Muhammad Ali knew what Donald Trump was up to with his spreading of hate. Trump can’t cover up his bigoted previous tweet by calling Ali a wonderful guy after he has passed away.
Ali’s death should cause every American to reflect on his words and legacy, and ask themselves if they want to embrace many of the elements that Ali fought against by electing Donald Trump to be the next president.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
