The Finals MVP and Golden State Warriors star player Kevin Durant has zero intentions of visiting the White House in recognition of their NBA Championship, and his reasoning is nothing but counter-productive.
Durant returned to his hometown of Seat Pleasant, Maryland on Thursday to celebrate “Kevin Durant Day” during which he made a vulgar comment about the president. Later that day the NBA star spoke about his team’s potential visit to the White House, which he said he would not attend because Trump is causing division and racial tension in America.
“Nah, I won’t do that, I don’t respect who’s in office right now,” Durant told ESPN. “I don’t agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that.” (RELATED: Kevin Durant Attacks Donald Trump With Incredibly Vulgar Comment)
(Photo Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports/REUTERS)
“I feel ever since he’s got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided, and it’s not a coincidence. When Obama was in office, things were looking up. We had so much hope in our communities where I come from because we had a black president, and that was a first,” the Warriors star said.
“So to see that and to be where we are now, it just felt like we took a turn for the worse, man. It all comes from who is in the administration. It comes from the top. Leadership trickles down to the rest of us. So, you know, if we have someone in office that doesn’t care about all people, then we won’t go anywhere as a country. In my opinion, until we get him out of here, we won’t see any progress.”
Athletes have already refused to visit the Trump White House for similar reasons, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a counter-productive one. If you believe Donald Trump is responsible for the racial tension in America, do something about it don’t run from it. Go to the White House and have a discussion about it instead of complaining in interviews and taking shots at the president from afar.
What kind of example is Kevin Durant going to set for the millions of young kids around America, black and white, if he refuses to come to the White House because of divisiveness rather than attending in a display of unity. (RELATED: Kevin Durant Believes Donald Trump Is ‘Driving’ Racial Tension In America)
boo hoo. Sad story…..keep tellin me more
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 18, 2017
Former ESPN reporter Britt McHenry called the Finals MVP out for just that on Twitter. Rather than reply with a dignified response to defend his comments, he responded like a child would.
Durant hates being in the spotlight. He hates media attention. He probably hates being famous too, but because he is, it puts him in a unique position to inspire and change things. And for him, and any other player, to have an opportunity to talk to the most powerful man in the United States and respond like this is nothing short of childish.