Seahawks’ Russell Wilson voices opposition to Donald Trump’s executive order
Jan 31, 2017, 3:34 PM | Updated: 4:22 pm
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson often steers clear of controversial topics, but he voiced his opposition to President Donald Trump during a Facebook Live session Tuesday.
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While getting his haircut for a post called “Barbershop Talk Season 2,” Wilson brought up his concerns about Trump’s first few days in office, including the controversy following his executive order on travel that has led to widespread protests around the country.
Wilson starts the talk at about the 9:38 mark of the video embedded above.
“Despite anybody’s political issues or views, everybody has a right to choose who they want to vote for, but this thing is getting out of hand. It’s getting out of hand, people. I don’t care who you voted for. Just so you know, I voted for Hillary. But, when you think about it’s only been, what, two weeks … We’ve got to attack this issue here. Basically, I think that when you think about all the negativity that’s happened within a 10-day period, or however many days it’s been, it’s already too much. It’s already crazy, it’s already affecting people’s hearts and souls and lives in such a negative way, in my opinion. … We go to the LAX airport and there’s people all over the place fighting for their lives and protesting and all the protests that have gone on … through the African American community, through obviously the Muslim community, too. We’re gonna be a nation that says we’re equal, we have to be equal. Obviously being smart of all that kind of stuf, but you also have to be able to treat people fairly, you have to be able to love everyone. I know even from my own faith, my Christian faith, we still have to love everybody. No matter what our issues are, we still have to find ways to love people and care for people. I think that’s the thing that’s been crazy already. I don’t even know if he’s going to be able to last four years, in my opinion. You don’t want to wish bad upon anybody because if he doesn’t last four years, that means that something went wrong, so hopefully nothing goes wrong, anymore that it’s already doing. But it’s just been a crazy 10 days already. And, you know, um, Barack! Comeback. Come back, Barack! Come back, Barack!”
Wilson continued with his praise of former President Barack and his wife Michelle, saying that people are starting to appreciate the Obamas’ class and ability to navigate sensitive situations.
“Now you kind of recognize that,” Wilson said. “People’s feelings are getting hurt, people’s lives are getting changed, people are getting sent back or not let in back home to see their families of reasons that may not be worthy. Just because you believe in something or you’re from a certain place doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person.”
Seahawks on social issues
While Wilson has often been tight-lipped on political issues, other Seahawks have been more socially active. Defensive end Michael Bennett commented on then-presidential candidate Trump’s “hot mic” comments in October, saying at the time: “It’s kind of crazy with all the stuff that’s going on. To have a (candidate) that doesn’t understand the people, I think it’s kind of a disgrace a little bit.” Wide receiver Doug Baldwin has met with city and state officials to speak about law enforcement issues and also called for the attorneys general of all 50 states to review the training policies used by police and “to eliminate militaristic cultures while putting a higher emphasis on de-escalation tactics and crisis management measures.” As a team, the Seahawks engaged in a season-long “demonstration of unity,” linking arms during the Star Spangled Banner.
By contrast, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has generally dodged questions about his long-time friendship with Trump. While at the podium in Houston Monday for Super Bowl media day, Brady was asked: “Do you have a message for the current president? A positive one?”
Brady’s response: “I just wish everyone the best.”
