The ??? ?????? ??????? ???????? ????????? ?????????often controversial social media presence of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump has been at the center of his campaign, but on Saturday he may have taken things a step too far for some on Twitter.
Responding to NBA player Dwyane Wade's tweet, which detailed the shooting death of his cousin, Nykea Aldridge, in Chicago on Friday, Trump decided to continue his awkward appeal to black voters by weighing in on the news.
SEE ALSO: Trump’s cozy relationship with Breitbart gets even cozier with big hireMy cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016
"Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago," wrote Trump. "Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!"
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Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016
The occasion of Trump using Wade's family death as a political talking point immediately kicked up a social media firestorm, with hundreds of Twitters users responding to Trump with harsh criticisms and disapproving meme photos and videos.
Among those commenting were Hollywood actor Don Cheadle, who responded to Trump's tweet with, "You are truly a POS." Then, after Trump deleted his initial tweet and reposted the same message, this time with Wade's first name spelled correctly, Cheadle wrote, "Sorry. I misspelled 'die in a grease fire.'"
Sorry. I misspelled "die in a grease fire." https://t.co/16K2iq1pF4
— Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) August 27, 2016
Those sentiments reflect the tone of most of the messages directed at Trump in the wake of the tweet and, as of this writing, the number of negative responses only appears to be growing.
Then, just a couple of hours after the now-infamous tweet, Trump made what appears to be a rare attempt to heal the damage caused by his initial tweet by offering his condolences.
"My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge," wrote Trump. "They are in my thoughts and prayers."
My condolences to Dwyane Wade and his family, on the loss of Nykea Aldridge. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2016
However, those thoughts may be too little too late, as the firestorm around the original tweet only continues to build.