This is the story of three men of note and how their lives intersected over the tragic death of a 32-year-old mother who was killed in a Chicago crossfire this weekend.
The woman, Nykea Aldridge, who was pushing a baby carriage when she was shot to death, happened to be NBA player Dwyane Wade’s cousin.
Wade’s mother, Jolinda Wade, spoke out passionately after her niece’s tragic demise, but was joined in the spotlight by another who also had commentary.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who never seems to get off social media, tweeted the following in response to Aldridge’s death:
“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!”
The tweet was viewed by many as being exploitative and in poor taste. A young woman and mother of four has just randomly lost her life in front of her children, and the candidate somehow ties it to African Americans voting for him. (The initial tweet was taken down and reposted after Trump misspelled Wade’s first name.)
Later that afternoon, Trump decided to add condolences to the family. Thanks, Donald.
But wait—there’s more. Actor Don Cheadle was so incensed by Trump’s insensitivity that he jumped in the mix and skewered him in a series of tweets that may lead some to believe that he really may be Marty Kaan, the silver-tongued smartass on his recently ended Showtime series, House of Lies.
Cheadle unleashed a slew of raw yet sometimes highbrow language to set the Republican candidate low.
From the direct:
To the more esoteric:
And to sum it up: