Melania Trump: Clear looks and eye rolls in the direction of Donald

Donald Trump shows up at a baseball game with his wife Melania. But after that everyone only talks about racist hand movements and unambiguous looks.

Update from November 4th 2021, 11.30 a.m .: As if the allegations of racism against Donald Trump weren’t enough. Now there is also a recording in the social networks that does not shed a good light on the relationship between the former US president and his wife Melania Trump.

Both had attended a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros last Saturday (October 30th). Donald Trump subsequently claimed that he and Melania had been personally invited by the head of Major League Baseball (MLB). But he couldn’t remember an invitation from the Trumps. Rather, Donald called the manager of the Atlanta Braves, Terry McGuirk, and asked if he could come to the game. “We were very surprised. Of course we said yes, ”McGuirk told the news portal Sportsnet New York.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump: what about their marriage?

But even the fact that Donald Trump had been caught lying did not determine the subsequent discussion about the Trump’s appearance. This honor went to a very special video. On this one can see Melania Trump, Donald’s wife, who has withdrawn almost completely from the public at least since her husband’s election defeat by Joe Biden.

Now Melania was back, smiling at Donald’s side, waving at the camera. So far so good. But in a moment the former first lady turned away from her husband. Her smile disappeared and a rather distinct eye roll left little doubt as to the situation of the marriage of the two. But judge for yourself:

Racism allegations against Donald Trump after attending a baseball game

First report from November 1, 2021: Atlanta – A baseball game in Atlanta sparked the debate about racism and cultural appropriation in sport in the United States. Specifically, it is about a certain gesture, the so-called “Tomahawk Chop”: the fans of the Atlanta Braves baseball team made it famous.

The gesture has been controversial for a long time, but two super celebrities attracted increased attention with their action. For the fourth game of the World Series in Trust Park in Atlanta, the former US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump were also present – and eagerly participated in the “Tomahawk Chop”.

Donald Trump participates in racist tomahawk gesture during a baseball game

A tomahawk is a battle ax-like weapon used by various indigenous tribes in the United States. The expression “to chop” means “to chop something” in German. The gesture – one arm is in the air and is jerked up and down in jerky movements – is intended to be reminiscent of chopping with a tomahawk. In addition, the “Tomahawk Chop”, just like the name of the Atlanta Braves (in German: warriors), alludes to the Native Americans who fought against their expulsion and extermination in the 19th century. Thousands of Native Americans were killed in the process.

While many fans enthusiastically participate in the exclamations and the gesture, this practice is viewed by many Native Americans as racist and degrading. A video recorded during the game that also featured Donald and Melania Trump was posted on Twitter.

Criticism of tomahawk chop gesture during baseball game – “dark part of our past”

Jeff Passan, an American baseball columnist, criticized on Twitter the historically forgotten exercise of this gesture. “This is not about being woke. It’s about acknowledging that an atrocity has happened here, about acknowledging a dark part of our past and saying that it is the right thing not to get involved in something that is completely ahistorical (…). “

In 2019, the St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Ryan Helsley, criticized the “Tomahawk Chop” after a game against the Atlanta Braves. Native Americans would be portrayed as “cavemen”, Helsley said, as the Huffpost reports. Appropriating Native American names for something unrelated to their culture “devalues ​​us and how we are perceived that way or used as mascots,” he said, according to Huffpost. Helsley is a member of the Cherokee Nation indigenous tribe.

USA: Cultural appropriation is a common problem in sports

The use of team names, logos, battle cries or mascots that evoke associations with the culture of Native Americans is a common practice in the USA and is a constant source of criticism. Many teams have already renamed themselves or changed their logos in the past.

The Atlanta Braves don’t want to change their name, however. In late 2020, they reportedly told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they would stand by their controversial name, according to the Huffpost. The use of the “Tomahawk Chop” is still being discussed internally. There has not yet been a clear statement on this.

Native Americans denounce racist gesture during baseball game in Atlanta

The top baseball boss Rob Manfred recently insisted that the regional Native Americans would support the “Tomahawk Chop”. However, this was quickly denounced by several representatives of the Native Americans.

The National Congress of American Indians issued a statement on Wednesday (October 27th, 2021) in which it requested Fox television not to broadcast the “Tomahawk Chop” during the World Series.

Atlanta Braves baseball game – Donald Trump apparently invited himself

Trump was back in the World Series for the first time since October 2019. Back then, he had attended Game 5 in Washington’s Nationals Park and was booed loudly when he was seen on the stadium’s video panel. According to the Huffpost, Trump made a statement saying he had been invited to the Atlanta Braves game. However, Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McGuirk told USA Today that Trump had notified the team of his participation.

In 2020, Trump announced that he wanted to boycott baseball after the US baseball league made a symbolic sign against racism with knees. The former president probably doesn’t care much about the current racism debate either: He is currently taking legal action against the release of archived documents in the case of the storming of the Capitol. (Anna Charlotte Groos)