Twitter Users Remind Trump Which Muslim Sports Heroes Obama Was Talking About
During President Obama‘s speech on the San Bernardino last night, he warned that not all Muslims share the extremist values held by the shooters, and impressed that many followers of Islam contribute to society in various ways.
Now, among Donald Trump‘s criticisms of the president during his live-tweeting of the speech, that “great memory” of his failed him when he questioned Obama’s claim that Muslims were among America’s biggest figures in sports:
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
Not long after this, numerous Twitter users and media outlets pointed to numerous major sporting figures of the Islamic faith, some of whom Trump has claimed to know:
And dude, @realDonaldTrump, you’ve met @MuhammadAli multiple times. pic.twitter.com/tIiIBgY80b
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) December 7, 2015
.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/kgISTkZ6Ag
— Eric Cunningham (@EricCunningham) December 7, 2015
Famous former boxer Muhammad Ali has an outspoken history about his Islamic faith, and NBC noted that Trump met him on several occasions over the years, including at a United Cerebral Palsy Association Gala in 2001. One Twitter user also pointed out a throwback tweet Trump issued in May where he described Ali as a friend. Trump also received reminders of Mike Tyson, another famous Muslim boxer whose endorsement of the front-running mogul has been pointed to by his campaign in the past.
@PoliticsPeach Mike Tyson…also now a Muslim. He just endorsed Trump. Then there’s this: pic.twitter.com/UhLYCiyijL
— SNIPES! (@ChocnessMonsta) December 7, 2015
Basketball figures were also frequently pointed to, and Twitter users also noted figures such as Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar:
Well… “@realDonaldTrump: Obama said that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who?” pic.twitter.com/VNv2F6gKHQ
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) December 7, 2015
@realDonaldTrump Have you heard of this guy named Muhammed Ali? Bernard Hopkins? Shaquille O’Neal? Hakeem Olajuwon? Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
— Kyle Grantham (@kylegrantham) December 7, 2015
Dear @FisherCenter, We have a clear case here, I’m trying to make @realDonaldTrump remember, any other advices? pic.twitter.com/IHHjegszmj
— مروان المريسي (@almuraisy) December 7, 2015
While Abdul-Jabbar has critiqued Trump in the past, the real estate mogul is certainly familiar with the basketball star, having trashed the Abdul-Jabbar’s Washington Post op-ed with Trump’ signature sharpies:
@KajSkyhook33 pic.twitter.com/r5pf7CKcaR
— Andrew Ungvari (@DrewUnga) December 7, 2015
[h/t Slate]
[image via Twitter]
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