If you haven’t noticed, Boston Celtics big man icon Bill Russell is no fan of the current U.S. president.
The 11-time champion has criticized Donald Trump and his policies a number of times over the course of his administration, and Russell seemed particularly peeved by the president’s penchant for talking over his interlocutors.
While by all accounts Trump’s demeanor in the final debate of the 2020 U.S. presidential race struck a less animated tone than in the previous debates, it was still not enough for the Celtic legend to stomach without comment.
Tweeting a pair of responses to what he was witnessing in the broadcast, Russell began to agitate for his own mute button, a sticking point between the two camps ahead of the debate.
I just found out who is on the #MuteButton & why its not being used #DebateTonight #MSNBC2020 #TrumpMeltdown #Debates2020 pic.twitter.com/Oy23BkqYKk
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) October 23, 2020
“I’m sorry where is the [mute] Button?? I thought that was part of this [Debate tonight] Trump can’t help himself!” observed Russell.
I’m sorry where is the #MUTEButton?? I thought that was part of this #DebateTonight #Trump can’t help him self! #Debates2020 #PresidentialDebate2020 pic.twitter.com/VMkrkYfRPX
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) October 23, 2020
He posted another tweet suggesting Trump himself had control of the mute button soon after.
You can see for yourself @LindseyGrahamSC @SenSusanCollins & @senatemajldr all agree our choice is clear @JoeBiden #RepublicansForBiden Unity over division. Truth over lies. Hope over fear. Our choice is clear. Get out & #Vote @MSNBC @CNN @FoxNews #BidenHarris2020 pic.twitter.com/x8eSe27bLA
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) October 23, 2020
He finished the next day with a video of prominent Republican senators praising Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden in response, saying:
“You can see for yourself [Lindsey Graham], [Susan Collins] & [Mitch McConnell] all agree our choice is clear; [Joe Biden] #RepublicansForBiden Unity over division. Truth over lies. Hope over fear. Our choice is clear. Get out & #Vote.”
It doesn’t look like Russell is likely to accept a presidential Medal of Freedom as his teammate Bob Cousy did near the start of Trump’s term as president, but hopefully with the election less than two weeks distant, Russell and the rest of us can have a reprieve from the vituperative politics of 2020.
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