Donald Trump is making it abundantly clear where his allegiance lies, and that’s with his white, male base. In a tweet Monday morning, Trump called for Bubba Wallace, the only Black NASCAR driver, to apologize for the for an incident where a noose was found hanging in his garage at the Talladega, Alabama raceway.
Trump also criticized the banning of the confederate battle flag from NASCAR events.
NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick tweeted “We don’t need an apology. We did what was right and we will do just fine without your support.”
Last month, NASCAR drivers rallied around Wallace after a noose was found hanging by one of his crew members. It should be noted that Wallace didn’t see the noose or report it. The New York Times writes:
“NASCAR has said its investigation did not determine who put the noose in Wallace’s stall or how it got there after U.S. investigators had separately concluded no federal crime was committed.“
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham also fired back against Trump saying on Fox News radio: “I don’t think Bubba Wallace has anything to apologize for. You saw the best in NASCAR. They all rallied to Bubba’s side. I would be looking to celebrate that kind of attitude rather than being worried it’s a hoax.”
As for the ratings, NBC News reports, Trump is wrong. They’re up.
“Since NASCAR announced a ban on the Confederate flag last month, the sport has seen a boost in television ratings. Overnight ratings following the sport’s June race at Martinsville, which immediately followed the banning announcement, were up 104 percent over a comparable 2019 race.
“The Talladega race later in June, where the noose incident Trump referenced happened, rated as the most-watched Monday contest in years. NASCAR has also benefited from being one of the few live events on TV, as most other sports remain idled in the U.S. due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.“
UPDATE: Bubba Wallace has responded:
