ESPN journalist Jemele Hill is dismissing as a “photo op” a rumored meeting between President Trump and Colin Kaepernick to discuss race, saying Trump just wants to use the former NFL quarterback “as a chew toy for his base.”
People reported Friday that Trump wanted to hold a “race summit” with Kanye West and Kaepernick, among other musicians and athletes.
Trump has previously blasted Kaepernick, who as a player with the San Francisco 49ers led kneeling protests during the national anthem to object to the treatment of people of color in the U.S. Trump has called for players who don’t stand for the flag to be fired.
Hill, who has been vocally critical of Trump, said on Wednesday’s “Out of Bounds” episode on Complex that she was skeptical about the lack of experts on race relations reported to be invited to the rumored event.
“That to me made it seem as if this is really about a photo op,” Hill said. “This is really about an optic to be able to say ‘oh look’ — especially, you know, midterms are coming pretty soon — to be able to say ‘Oh look I sat down with x.” {mosads}
Hill also said there could be consequences for celebrities who have been critical of Trump if they failed to attend the reported summit.
“I think maybe the other part of it, too, is that if some of these musicians and athletes who have been critical of him, if they don’t show up, that will also be used as a chew toy for his base again to say, ‘See, I tried but this,’”
In an op-ed published on ESPN’s The Undefeated Monday, Hill also warned Kaepernick against being exploited by the White House, saying that an invite from the president may not be genuine.
“There is something to say for Trump seeking greater understanding of complex racial issues, especially considering he has often come off as dismissive of the impact of racism on marginalized people and seemingly revels in encouraging intolerance,” Hill wrote.
“But we’re a long way from giving Trump a cookie, as it can’t be forgotten how much Trump seemed to take a special delight in helping to torpedo Kaepernick’s NFL career.”
Hill was the subject of sharp criticism, including from the White House, after she tweeted in September that Trump is “is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.”
Hill has said she stands by her remarks.