Don Cheadle, Michelle Williams outraged at Trump's Dwyane Wade tweet
GOP presidential nominee attacked on social media after using the death of NBA star's cousin to push politics
Donald Trump is once again igniting outrage with a single tweet.
The U.S. Republican presidential nominee posted a message on social media Saturday morning following the shooting death of Nykea Aldridge, the cousin of NBA star Dwyane Wade.
The initial tweet didn't offer condolences, instead focusing on his bid to win African-American voters in the Nov. 8 American election.
"Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago," he wrote after initially deleting the same tweet that misspelled Wade's first name as Dwayne and receiving backlash as a result. "Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!"
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!
—@realDonaldTrumpAldridge, a mother of four, died Friday after being caught in cross-fire while pushing a baby stroller in Chicago's South Side near a school where she intended to register her children.
The Chicago Bulls basketball star tweeted about the shooting Friday, calling it "another act of senseless gun violence."
My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnoughIsEnough?src=hash">#EnoughIsEnough</a>
—@DwyaneWadeTrump's tweet was slammed as opportunist by many on social media, including Captain America: Civil War and Hotel Rwanda star Don Cheadle.
"You are truly a POS," Cheadle wrote Saturday. In a second tweet, he said: "Sorry. I misspelled 'die in a grease fire.'"
Sorry. I misspelled "die in a grease fire." <a href="https://t.co/16K2iq1pF4">https://t.co/16K2iq1pF4</a>
—@DonCheadleMichelle Williams, a member of the group Destiny's Child, also responded to Trump's tweet by saying: "An absolute disgrace."
<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a> An absolute disgrace
—@RealMichelleWHours later, the millionaire businessman-turned-politician posted another tweet, this time offering condolences to Wade's family: "They are in my thoughts and prayers."
My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
—@realDonaldTrumpTrump has been actively trying to win over African-American voters, a demographic that polls show Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as gaining more ground.
Speaking at a rally in Michigan last week, Trump urged black voters to give him a chance.
"You're living in your poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 per cent of your youth is unemployed — what the hell do you have to lose?"
Earlier this week, Trump referred to Clinton as a "bigot" in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, a tactic also seen by some as a ploy to attract minority voters.
Wade has not responded to Trump's tweet about the death of his cousin.
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