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Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Writer
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. national team coach Steve Kerr tried to sum up the emotions of his team halfway around the world representing the country in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, calling it a “terrible” and “demoralizing day” Sunday for our country.
“It’s a very proud time to go to the Olympics with the American flag on my chest and represent my country,” Kerr said. “I’ve spoken to our athletes about how important it is to look your best as human beings and represent our country with respect and dignity. It makes me want to do that even more because it’s really embarrassing for us to sit here and think about what’s happened and what’s going on in our country.”
Carr, whose father, Malcolm, was assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1984, has been a long-time critic of gun violence.
“It’s a demoralizing day for our country, yet another example of not only political division but gun culture,” Carr said. “A 20-year-old with an AR-15 is trying to shoot a former president. It’s all hard to comprehend, and it’s scary to think what could happen going forward, given the problems that already exist in this country. So it’s a terrible day.”
“We’re glad that Trump wasn’t attacked, but it’s extremely demoralizing in every sense of the word.”
“I was shot above the right ear,” Trump said in a social media post. With his ear bloodied, Trump was rushed off the stage by Secret Service agents. Early Sunday morning, the FBI identified the suspect as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Players and coaches woke up to the news Sunday morning and learned of the incident in Butler, Pa. The FBI said in a statement that “this remains an active investigation.”
“It’s obviously a very sad time across the board,” U.S. Team Star Stephen Curry said. “With all the discussion about the election and the political situation in our country, and then something like this happens, it brings up a lot of emotions about things that we as a nation need to right.”
“Of course, the first thing is gun control, because someone could carry out such an attack. But more than that, [see] “Positivity and hope. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true. This is when our country is at its best, and this just adds another stain to what’s going on. It’s just so sad, that’s the only word I can use.”
The U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Martina Strong, addressed the team at a previously scheduled event on Sunday. The U.S. team is in the Middle East this week, where it will play Olympic preparation matches against Australia on Monday and Serbia on Wednesday.
“Obviously, what we do is a small thing, playing basketball, but we want to do our best to give people a little insight into what our country is all about,” Kerr said. “And when you hear stuff like this, it’s very disheartening and very sad.”
