WASHINGTON — Donald Trump tweeted Saturday that tragedies like the death of NBA star Dwyane Wade’s cousin are one of the reasons African-Americans will vote for the Republican nominee.
“Dwayne Wade’s cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!” he tweeted, misspelling Wade’s first name.
Trump later deleted the tweet and posted an update with Wade’s name spelled correctly.
He later added, “My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers.”
Aldridge was fatally shot by a stray bullet Friday afternoon while pushing a stroller down a street in Chicago’s South Side. The child was not injured and two suspects were taken into custody.
Trump also commented on Aldridge’s death Saturday at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Just yesterday, the cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade, a great guy Dwyane Wade, was the victim of a tragic shooting in Chicago,” he said. “It breaks all of our hearts to see it. It’s horrible. It’s horrible and it’s only getting worse. This shouldn’t happen in our country. It shouldn’t happen in America.”
“So we send our thoughts and prayers to the family and we also promise to fight for a much, much better tomorrow,” Trump added.
Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine, criticized Trump for his response, saying the only appropriate response to Aldridge’s death was sympathy.
“We just ought to be extending our sympathy to the family. That’s the only reaction that is appropriate right now and maybe a sadness about this gun violence issue,” the vice presidential candidate told reporters in Miami Lakes, Florida. “You see something like this and it’s just, we should redouble our efforts to really adopt and promote smart strategies on that. But the sympathy issue is the one that ought to be our strong first reaction.”
Other Democrats — including Clinton — have criticized Trump’s tone and rhetoric about African-American issues as insensitive and have questioned his commitment to black voters. A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Clinton beating Trump 91%-1% among African-Americans.
Trump has cited violence in American inner cities as a reason why he believes African-Americans should vote for him.
“I say this to the African-American community: Give Donald Trump a chance. We will turn it around,” Trump said at a rally in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. “We will make your streets safe so when you walk down the street, you don’t get shot, which is happening now. That’s what’s happening now.”
The Trump campaign announced earlier this week that it is planning a concerted effort to reach out to minority voters. The campaign plans to visit diverse and urban communities, where they will focus on an economic and job growth.
Trump has taken to Twitter after past tragedies when he believes they confirm ideas he’s proposed in his speeches. In the wake of the Orlando terrorist attack in June, Trump tweeted, “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!”
