Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab, takes on Donald Trump https://t.co/RL5nFHEazN
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 3, 2016
American Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad calls Donald Trump’s comments about Muslims ‘very dangerous’
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad will make history at the 2016 Olympics when she becomes the first American Muslim woman to compete wearing a hijab. In the lead up to Rio she sat down with CNN to discuss her preparation for the games and thoughts about presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Muhammad was asked about Trump after she tweeted “Friends don’t let friends like Trump” back in December of 2015 while reacting to Trump’s outspoken comments about Muslims. She clarified those to CNN.
“I think that his words are very dangerous. When these types of comments are made nobody thinks about how they really effect people.”
When Muhammad hears comments about exiling Muslims or banning their entrance into the country, she wants people to know exactly what that means to people like her and her family.
“I’m African American. I don’t have another home to go to. My family was born here. I was born here. We’ve grown up in Jersey, I’ve grown up in Jersey. Where do we go?”
Her role as an Olympian and medal hopeful gives Muhammad a platform to raise awareness, break down negative perceptions of Muslims throughout the country and make a serious impact.
