Athletic figures representing various leagues in the US took to social platforms following the recent presidential debate, with many of them encouraging their audience to participate in the upcoming November election.
During the debate, President Trump was questioned about his stance towards white supremacist organizations and the escalation of violence associated with them in recent demonstrations nationwide. Instead of addressing the issue directly, Trump asserted that all the recent politically-driven unrest had been incited by left-wing factions.
“Stand back and stand by…” Trump remarked when addressing the Proud Boys, a group identified as a far-right extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Group. He further emphasized the need for action against Antifa and left-wing movements, categorizing the situation as unrelated to right-wing ideology.
Reacting to this statement, NBA standout Stephen Curry posted on Twitter, “Stand back and stand by??????????? No further questions your honour! #vote.”
The call to vote featured prominently in the athletes’ social media posts, with LeBron James emphasizing, “PLEASE VOTE!!!!!”
Conversely, some athletes opted to comment on the general conduct of the candidates during the debate. Deion Sanders, a prominent figure in the NFL Hall of Fame and currently serving as head coach at Jackson State, tweeted, “This debate is the best sitcom of the year. This is pure comedy and the level of disrespect is off the charts. #Truth #LordHelpus.”
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