POLITICS

Donald Trump Says Fatal Shooting of Dwyane Wade's Cousin Is "Just What I Have Been Saying"

8:15 AM PDT 8/27/2016 by Jackie Strause

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Dwyane Wade

Social media was quick to ignite over the GOP presidential nominee's tweet, calling out his lack of compassion and highlighting his misspelling of the NBA star's name.

Donald Trump on Saturday morning likened the tragic shooting of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin to the plea he has aimed at black voters in recent weeks.

In a since-deleted tweet, the GOP presidential nominee misspelled the NBA star's name when he wrote: "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 ignited a firestorm on social media. Twitter users called out his lack of compassion, and highlighted his spelling error.

Three hours later, he deleted the original tweet and posted another with the same message, only this time with the correct spelling of Wade's name.

Then, an hour later, he sent his condolences to Wade and his family.

Wade's cousin was shot and killed on Friday in Chicago while pushing her baby in a stroller in what Wade called "another act of senseless gun violence." While walking near a school a mile and a half from the University of Chicago, two males fired shots at a third male and hit 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge in the head and arm, according to police. Her baby wasn't hurt.

Wade, who has been active against gun violence, took to Twitter to announce the tragic news on Friday and say, "Enough is enough."

Wade also tweeted on Saturday morning to say how the city of Chicago is "hurting" over such senseless acts.

In recent weeks, Trump's outreach to black voters has included calling Hillary Clinton a "bigot" and asking African-Americans, "What the hell do you have to lose?"

"You’re living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs," he has said, sparking backlash. 

Wade's words on Friday echo the call he made to end gun violence and racial profiling with his fellow NBA superstars during the ESPY Awards in July.

"The endless gun violence in places like Chicago, Dallas and Orlando — it has to stop," Wade said while taking the stage alongside Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James. "Enough. Enough is enough."

A day before his cousin's shooting, Wade, a Chicago native who signed last month with the Chicago Bulls, participated via satellite in a town hall meeting in Chicago on gun violence hosted by ESPN.

After Trump related the tragedy to his political agenda, many on social media were quick to condemn him.

Actor Don Cheadle shared Trump's tweet and wrote, "You are truly a POS." He then shared his own post and said, "Sorry. I misspelled 'die in a grease fire.'"

Trump also was criticized for misspelling Wade's name. See the reactions below: 

Aug. 27, 9:45 a.m.: Updated with new Trump tweet.

Aug. 27, 10:50 a.m.: Updated with second Trump tweet.