Gregg Popovich unleashes fiery statement on Trump: ‘What we have is a fool in place of a president’ – Yahoo Sports

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich doesnt pull his punches. You may not like what he has to say, but hell always tell you exactly whats on his mind. And after nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality over the weekend, he had quite a lot on his mind.

Popovich spoke to The Nations Dave Zirin on Sunday, and he touched on several topics that are currently in the news. He began by talking about racism and police violence in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody, and how things continue to stay the same.

The thing that strikes me is that we all see this police violence and racism and weve seen it all before but nothing changes. Thats why these protests have been so explosive. But without leadership and an understanding of what the problem is, there will never be change. And white Americans have avoided reckoning with this problem forever because its been our privilege to be able to avoid it. That also has to change.

Then he moved on to leadership, lamenting the current resident of the White House, President Donald Trump.

Its unbelievable. If Trump had a brain, even if it was 99 percent cynical, he would come out and say something to unify people. But he doesnt care about bringing people together. Even now. Thats how deranged he is. Its all about him. Its all about what benefits him personally. Its never about the greater good. And thats all hes ever been.

Spurs head coach Greg Popovich didn't hold back when talking about Donald Trump's response to the protests that have sprung up in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Popovich has spoken about Trump before, but given everything thats happened over the past week, this time he really went in.

Its so clear what needs to be done. We need a president to come out and say simply that Black Lives Matter. Just say those three words. But he wont and he cant. He cant because its more important to him to mollify the small group of followers who validate his insanity. But its more than just Trump. The system has to change. Ill do whatever I can do to help because thats what leaders do. But he cant do anything to put us on a positive path because hes not a leader.

Its like what Lindsay Graham and Ted Cruz used to say when they had the courage to say it: Hes unfit. But they have chosen instead to be invisible and obsequious in the face of this carnage. In the end what we have is a fool in place of a president, while the person who really runs the country, Senator Mitch McConnell, destroys the United States for generations to come. McConnell has destroyed and degraded our judicial system. He has tried to destroy heath care. Hes destroyed the environment. Hes the master and Trumps the stooge, and whats funny is that Trump doesnt even know it. Trumps always wanted to be part of the in-group, but McConnell is an in-group of one and Trump plays the fool.

Hes not just divisive. Hes a destroyer. To be in his presence makes you die. He will eat you alive for his own purposes. Im appalled that we have a leader who cant say Black Lives Matter. Thats why he hides in the White House basement. He is a coward. He creates a situation and runs away like a grade-schooler. Actually, I think its best to ignore him. There is nothing he can do to make this better because of who he is: a deranged idiot.

As far as the protests that have sprung up across the country (and the world) since the death of George Floyd in police custody, Popovich let up on the gas pedal a little. He gave the protesters advice that he hopes will help them.

[The protests] are very necessary, but they need to be organized better. Its frustrating. When Dr. King did a protest, you knew when to show, when to come back the next day. But if youre just organizing protests and everyone is coming and going in every direction, it doesnt work that way. If it was nonviolent, they knew to be nonviolent, but this is muddled. More leadership would be very welcome so these incredible mass demonstrations cant be used by people for other means. We can limit the bad, but only if things are organized better.

Popovich has never shied away from making political statements and standing up for what he believes in. Its comforting that even though the NBA is currently suspended due to COVID-19, Popovich hasnt changed one bit.

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Gregg Popovich unleashes fiery statement on Trump: 'What we have is a fool in place of a president' - Yahoo Sports